Module POL3206 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL3206: The Political Economy of the State
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
The first aim of the module is to allow you to analyse the development and operation of the modern state. You will do this by first analysing some key historical turning points and processes, such as ‘the Glorious Revolution’, the extension of the franchises in democracies, the development and reform of civil services. How did these come about, what have been their consequences? Our approach will be to apply simplified models that can help you to isolate and analyse the relationships between powerful groups in each context. Application of such models will help you to sharpen your analytical skills and to think counterfactually about complicated situations. Comparing models to the historical and empirical record will help you to develop critical skills for assessing and revising arguments.
A second aim is to understand the contemporary dilemmas facing the state by drawing on insights from history and analytical models. For instance: How should sovereign debt be managed? How should macro-economic policy be made? How should public infrastructure be provided? How far can states reduce their expenditure whilst continuing to function?
Throughout the module you will draw on literature from political economy, economic, political and administrative history.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of key historical turning points in the development of the modern state. 2. Apply political economy models to the analysis of developments of the modern state. 3. Produce in-depth analysis of the dilemmas that currently face states using political economy models and in light of the historical record. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Critically assess the limitations of political economy models. 5. Effectively and critically use a range of sources and materials commonly employed in political economy research, including historical studies and quantitative data. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 6. Develop structured, coherent and theoretically informed arguments about key dilemmas facing the state 7. Write clearly about abstract models and empirical data. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
The module’s precise content may vary from year to year (the topics will generally be covered in a 2 week bloc):
Term 1 The historical evolution of capitalism and nation-states
- The development of modern European states: institutions and capacity
- Capitalism and ‘the first wave of democratization’
- Gender and economic and political change
- Social spend, the welfare state and democracy
- State led growth and the ‘Asian miracle’
Term 2 Varieties of capitalism in a global economy
- ‘Varieties of Capitalism’
- Varieties of Capitalism beyond ‘the core’
- The transformation of labour markets and institutions
- Digital economy, platforms and regulation
- Welfare and equality in contemporary capitalism
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 20 | 20 Lectures (1 hour each) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 20 | 20 seminars with student presentations (1 hours each) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 4 | Assessment workshops (2 hours each) |
| Guided independent study | 200 | Reading, thinking and preparing for lectures and tutorials |
| Guided independent study | 56 | Assignment preparation |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
