Geographies of the Global Political Economy
one-way Exclusions
One 1.5-hour lecture & one 1.5-hour tutorial per week
There is no specific textbook for this course; however, below are some key texts you may find helpful. I strongly recommend the Mackinnon and Cumbers text as it provides a good introduction to the topic. Weekly readings are available through the course onQ site (See Course Reserves module). For each class session, you are expected to have completed readings and come to class prepared to discuss them.
- Mackinnon D. and A. Cumbers (2011). An Introduction to Economic Geography: Globalization, Uneven Development and Place. Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall. (available as an e-book from Queen鈥檚 Library).
- Weingast, B.R. and D.A. Wittman (2006). The Oxford Handbook of Political Economy. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Available at:
- Warf, B. (Ed.) (2010). Encyclopedia of Geography. SAGE Publications, Inc.,
- CORE. Economy, Society and Public Policy. Online Text. Available at:
Please note that course information listed in the Arts and Science Course Calendar supersedes any information listed on the Geography and Planning website.
For the most current course offerings, registered Queen鈥檚 students should consult .
Course Description
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the global political economy, specifically the complex interplay between politics and economics in the contemporary globalized world. It analyzes the interactions between states (e.g., USA, Russia, China, Canada, India), international organizations (e.g., IMF, World Bank, WTO), multi and transnational corporations (e.g., Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, BP, ExxonMobil), and other non-state actors (e.g., World Economic Forum, Transparency International, Group of Seven (G7) and Group of Twenty (G20)) in shaping the global economic system through economic policies, trade relationships, financial systems and development strategies. Additionally, the course delves into how the policies of these entities impact workers and are at the center of many global environmental challenges. You will examine key theories, concepts, and debates in the field and explore contemporary issues and challenges in the global political economy.
Course Overview
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the global political economy, specifically the complex interplay between politics and economics in the contemporary globalized world. It analyzes the interactions between states (e.g., USA, Russia, China, Canada, India), international organizations (e.g., IMF, World Bank, WTO), multi and transnational corporations (e.g., Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, BP, ExxonMobil), and other non-state actors (e.g., World Economic Forum, Transparency International, Group of Seven (G7) and Group of Twenty (G20)) in shaping the global economic system through economic policies, trade relationships, financial systems and development strategies. Additionally, the course delves into how the policies of these entities impact workers and are at the center of many global environmental challenges. You will examine key theories, concepts, and debates in the field and explore contemporary issues and challenges in the global political economy.
Course Topics
The topics to be covered are listed below.
- Introduction to Global Political Economy
- Trade and Globalization
- Global Financial System
- Development and Inequality
- Global Governance and Institutions
- Environment and Sustainability
- Power, Politics, and Conflict
- Globalization and Labor Markets
- Emerging Issues in the Global Political Economy
Learning Outcomes
- Explain using the basic concepts, theories, and frameworks from economic and political geography the connection between global scale social, economic, environmental, and political challenges, e.g., climate change, energy (in)security, debt crises and civil unrest.
- Describe how capitalism (as a system) and globalization (as a process of integration) create patterns of uneven development within and between countries and different geopolitical regions.
- Critically evaluate key political economic theories (e.g., neoliberalism, Marxism), policies (e.g., trade liberalization), and practices (e.g., structural adjustment programs) within the context of globalization, focusing on how they shape and sustain the hierarchical ordering of space, power, and resources.
- Consolidate their knowledge about space, place, scale, and power as abstract concepts and apply them to an analysis of how inequality is produced and reproduced in the global economy.
- Communicate key concepts from the course, (e.g., capitalism, uneven development, inequality) in plain language format to a non-academic audience.
- Develop critical thinking, research, and analytical skills through engagement with academic literature and case studies as well as written assignments and class participation.
Assessments
Subject to Change
- Participation and Attendance: 30% (10% lecture and 20% tutorial)
- Midterm: 30%
- Final Exam: 40%