STV4284B – The Politics of International Investment, Production and Trade
Course description
Course content
This is a course on the politics of economic globalization, with a focus on transnational production networks . The course focuses on theoretical perspectives on political economy, selected topics on production, trade and FDI. The course also includes topics on economic growth and development and the importance of oil and energy on the political economy.
Learning outcome
The course offers students insight into how political actors influence the interrelationships between foreign direct investment, transnational production and the changing structures of international trade. In this regard, the course highlights a variety of political actors, including states, trade unions, civil society organizations, multilateral institutions as well as individual agents. The course provides students with an overview of political economy theory and employs qualitative as well as quantitative methods to provide insights into the workings of the international political economy. It offers an overview of global and regional trends and patterns, including selected country and sector comparisons, Norway being one relevant case.
Knowledge
Students will:
- Obtain an overview of political economy theory.
- Obtain empirical knowledge of important issues of political economy, including more thorough knowledge of selected cases.
- Learn about underlying principles and dynamics of the international political economy.
- Become well-acquainted with 'real-world' bargaining over decision-making processes and issues that arise within the political transnational production networks.
Skills
Students will:
- Learn how to approach theoretically and methodologically the complexity of social and political relationships that relevant aspects of current economic globalization represent.
- Learn how to consider normative and ethical aspects related to distributive issues.
- Learn how to analyze problems related to major issues and processes in the international political economy
Competences
Students will:
- Strengthen general analytical and problem-solving skills
- Acquire the ability to analyze general problems of political economy across cases and time-periods.
- Acquire the ability to independently produce studies on major political economy topics, for example when writing a Master Thesis.
Admission
Students admitted to other Master programs may also be qualified to apply for the course. Please contact the Department of Political Science.
Only students admitted to the course may take part in instruction and tuition and sit for the examination.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Bachelor's degree in Political Science or equivalent.
Recommended previous knowledge
Bachelor's degree in Political Science or equivalent.
Teaching
10 lectures will be given. The lectures are held intensively for a period of 5 weeks, with the exam in the sixth week.
This course will be taught at the University of Oslo, Blindern campus. Other locations in Oslo may be used. Fronter will normally be used.
The course is part of the regular course offerings at the Faculty of Social Science. Teaching is mainly held during the daytime. Detailed course-information is found on the Webpage for the current semester.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Essay (10-15 pages in total), and a 3-hour written exam.
The number of essays to be handed in varies from semester to semester. The course convenor will inform the class of this in the beginning of the semester.
In order to receive a passing grade on the essay, your topic will have to reflect the course readings and curriculum. All chosen topics should be approved by the course instructor before the deadline. An essay topic not reflecting the curriculum, will receive a failing grade (F).
The final exam counts 60% of the grade, and in order to pass the course, your essay and your written exam must be passed in the same semester as your cours is taught. You will receive one overall grade for the course.
The Faculty of Social Science is responsible for the exam(s), and exam(s) are/is normally held at The University of Oslo, Blindern campus. Other locations in Oslo may be used.
Detailed exam-information is found on the Webpage for the current semester.
Examination support material
Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.
Language of examination
It is possible to submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Course grades are awarded on a descending scale using alphabetic grades from A to E for passes and F for fail.
Examination results are available in StudentWeb within three weeks after the examination-date, if no other information is given on the Webpage for the current semester.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Students may apply for access to alternative exam resources or exam forms on the basis of chronic illness and/or special needs that create a marked disadvantage to other students in the exam situation. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.
Application-forms for special examination arrangements on school-exams may be sent to The Faculty of Social Science. Application-forms for special examination arrangements on other exams may be sent to the institute who organise the course.
Evaluation
This course is evaluated half way through every semester and every four year the course undergoes a thorough evaluation.
An external auditor regularly evaluates the academic quality of the course and he/she makes a written report every year.