POL 121 - Governing the Global Economy

Upper Division

This course addresses the growing integration of national economies and financial systems worldwide and its consequence for national political institutions, policymaking, sovereignty and democracy. The course will focus on the evolution of international trade theory and policies since 1945, trends in foreign direct investment and the “securitization” revolution in international finance, and the evolution of transnational institutions (WTO, World Bank, IMF, etc.) and free trade mega-blocs (NAFTA-CAFTA, EU, etc.). Special focus is given to current and recent international financial crises and the impact of globalization on U.S. domestic economic policy, economic growth, income distribution, and the evolution of the corporate form of business. The course concludes with a review of the different responses and challenges to global economic integration today by environmentalist, worker-union, and other grass-roots civil society-based organizations.

Course credits: 1