Life in the 21st Century

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates (470-399BC)

Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (1813-55) believed that philosophy had to be a practical guide to living, even if it cannot tell you exactly what to do. For him if a philosophy cannot tell us how to live, then it is of no use outside academic life. He believed that the individual must make deliberate decisions about the direction of his life.

To do so, you need to construct a philosophy that can respond to the variety of psychological, economic, social, political and cultural challenges which derive from constant questioning of your identity, ideals and values by you and others.

Such a philosophy requires an understanding of:

1. the dynamic of the socio-economic world you live in with all its uncertainties
2. human nature, with both, its creative and destructive powers
3. power of the mind, its ability to transform values, ideas and ideals into
material force
4. critical thinking and the ability to deconstruct your value system, perceptions, and relationship the world around you
5. your needs, aspirations and abilities in order to (re)shape or (re)adjust your consciousness.

However, this short paper concentrates on point 1 and seeks to highlight some of the characteristics of the world around you today. It will argue that despite the greatest scientific and technological advances humankind has made, our lives are dominated by increasing anxiety and uncertainties for the future.

As an individuals living in a society you are undoubtedly influenced by it: constrained at times and empowered other times in achieving your ideals and needs. There are a variety of invisible structures that come together to create the environment in which you live.

At the first glance, 21st century technology provides you with comfort and peace of mind: your mobile phone allows access to friends and experts where ever you are, whether you are walking back home late at night and not happy with the dark quiet roads you are walking along and want to talk to the closed ones or you car breaks down in the middle of no where and you need someone to help you.

The internet allows you to enrol for a Barnes and Noble university course free of charge and study the subjects you are interested in. Computers and the internet bring you home anything you want from grocery and clothes to actual or virtual sex.

In the 21st century we have more choice than ever: you can give birth when you are 67; you can play squash or swim while you are flying to Australia; and soon by using your body cells, you can have spare parts produced for your ailing and aging bodies.

On the whole most people have more choice, are better fed, more comfortable and live longer in the 21st century.


Uncertainty:

However, if you look at this world carefully, you find a deep sense of uncertainty dominating your life: young people worry about their careers: Can they get a Job? Will they find love and happiness?

Middle-aged people are worried about old age, the future of their children, what happens to them when they are old, will their pension pay for needs in old age? Will they afford to pay for treatment when they fall ill?

And old people become increasingly anxious as they find their distance to the end of life is rapidly narrowing. Their Children or family members scattered across the world, loneliness begins to wear them down. These are very real and psychological concerns.

The most basic concern for people is economic. Without a job you cannot earn a living, without the money you will not have food, shelter, security and freedom.

So, this job, is the key to your survival. But in a world where socio-economic relations are left to the market to shape, you can never be sure how long we will be able to hold on to a job. But the challenge is not only confined to keeping a job. It is the whole value system that has developed overtime as a result of the market approach to the organisation of society, that dominates our lives, dehumanises our existence, and influences our expectations and behaviour.

But how does this happen? Let's look at the concept of market:


Market & the Global Context:

The Market is the place where the owners of Labour & Capital meet: one needs to sell its labour for a living, the other to buy labour in order to produce goods or services that can produce a profit, and the government's job is apparently to ensure fair play.

Note: when labour becomes scarce and expensive, employers substitute it by machines. And as you become older, more experienced or skilled in your job, you become more expensive, and more vulnerable in the market system, because younger, cheaper, more flexible work force is out there to replace you…

At the macro level, you find the search for maximising profit in the global market is the main cause of poverty, slavery, prostitution, hunger, disease + war:

1. Profit-making car-manufacturing plants are closed down in western Europe, their workers made miserable, because it is even more profitable to move operations to eastern Europe where labour is cheaper and production more profitable.

2. 3000 children die per day from Malaria, tuberculosis kills 2m people a year, and only 16% of HIV-positive people in Africa can hope to receive antiretroviral drugs. 15 million people have died of Aids in Africa – more than the highest estimate of the holocaust (11 m).Yet pharmaceutical companies prefer to invest in anti obesity or anti-impotence drugs, because these are more profitable.

3. 36m a year die of hunger. In70 countries, average incomes are less than they were in 1980. Life expectancy in Africa = 46. Daily income of half of Africa’s people = $1.00. 42% of Africa’s population have no access to safe water. Every 60 seconds, 4 people in the developing world die from water-related diseases.

4. In 1960 the richest 20% of the world's population were 30 times better off than the poorest 20%. This figure has now increased to over 70 times wealthier. Every year livestock in rich countries get more money than poor people in the developing countries: the gross national income in Ethiopia is $100 per capita, while the government subsidy for a cow in Japan is $2555. unfair trade rules cost poor countries $700bn p.a.

5. Finally by pursuing unjust aggressive policies in the hope of extending the access to natural resources and markets abroad, our unaccountable governments take death and destruction to other lands, which result in a backlash at home at some stage later. 9/11 and 7/7 have created an environment of fear with which we live our lives helpless everyday. Our governments create even more hostility as they seek to force their ethnocentric values down other nations' throat, particularly when we apply double-standards to practices we preach: leading democracies torture political prisoners in places such as Guantanamo Bay, yet they ask regimes we do not approve of to observe human rights!

These global factors put together have resulted in alienation, rootlessness and a sense of insecurity everywhere. Unfair trade practices, the growing gap between the rich and the poor together with war and destruction result in waves of refugees and immigrants in our societies, some more qualified than we are, making our soci-economic position vulnerable.

But the impact of market is not just socio-economic, it penetrates your value system and shapes your behaviour.

Opportunity:
Whether you are a seller of labour/skill or investor of capital, the choice is yours.

To join capitalism you need to seize an opportunity:

- borrowing from relatives, friends and banks
- working hard and intelligently
- testing your luck
- remember! you need to concentrate on profit-making, you are on your own and self-help is the only instrument available to you
- if fortune smiles, you too may become as rich as Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Warning: freedom to enrich oneself matches in step with freedom to go broke.

The same caveat applies to capitalist freedom to choose vocations: you are free to study art history or medieval Latin, but don't beresentful if you peers who opted for business administration, computer sciences drive better cares and live in bigger houses for the next 40 years. Unless your skills becomes a valuable commodity on the market, it is not of much use. You may be a talented artist, but you will not be recognised by society unless you can sell your art on the market.

Private ownership:

The greatest achievement under capitalism is private ownership: your home, your love, your children, your work are of higher social value if they really belong to you:

- rented accommodation is not valued in the same way as your own house
- marriage is supposed to be the highest level of a romantic relationship
- adopted children are not the same as your own ones

In the long run the logic of market convinces you that life is uncertain, private ownership is a crucial asset, competition, selfishness and individualism are the norms of life and central to your success. These shape your value system and determine your behaviour towards your partner, children, friends, colleagues, and the role of state, with money as the main source for measuring the value of love, friendship, happiness, pleasure, success and failure.

Conclusion:

The global and domestic socio-economic structure of the market influence dynamics of societies we live in, and in turn our psyche and needs. To feel secure we create a small shell in which we can belong to someone and feel secure in. But in a world where nothing is for ever, love, career, happiness… creating stability and security becomes a real challenge.


Reading List:
Patrick Gardiner, Kierkegaard: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2002).
Robert Lekachman & Boris Van Loon, Capitalism for Beginners (Writers and Readers Publishing Cooperative Ltd, 1981).
Jonathan Rutherford, The Art of Life: On Living, Love and Death (London: Lawrence & Wishart, 2000).
Richard Sennett, The Corrosion of Character: The Personal Consequences of Work in the New Capitalism (New York: W. W. Norton, 1998).

Methodological Challenges in Political Analysis

The Research Forum: Self-taught Course Series
Copyright (C) 2004 Raouf Tajvidi

Following the short course in methodology, Dynamic Thinking in Political Research, at The Research Forum in 2006, there emerged an interest in methodological challenges in political research. This course is therefore designed to address that interest. You are required to purchase at least the following 3 main texts below, the total cost of which is approximately £75.00.

- Peter Burnham et al, Research Methods in Politics (Palgrave, 2004).
- David Marsh & Gerry Stoker, Theory and Methods in Political Science (Basingstoke & New York: Palgrave, 2nd edition, 2002).
- Colin Hay, Political Analysis: A Critical Introduction (Basingstoke & New York: Palgrave, 2002).

This course introduces participants to the problem of political analysis. It explains the key component of various approaches to political science. This knowledge is then applied to current issues of politics and international relations, helping students develop a critical appreciation of ontological and epistemological dimensions of analysis and how in turn these factors impact the choice of methodology for and outcome of research.

As all self-taught courses, there are three crucial requirements for the successful completion of this programme: genuine interest in the topic, commitment to learning and patiently and systematically following the teaching programme. Participants are reminded that the objective of the course is not the speed with which they complete the programme but how much they enjoy doing it. Ideally you are required to spend 12 hours a week on the course. However, since this is a self-taught course you are required to define your own pace as far as the learning objectives are concerned. Some units make take longer to complete compared to the others. What is important is that you do not move to the next task, section or unit unless you have fully understood the terms, concepts and theories tackled under your existing brief and until you are fully satisfied with your progress.

Before you start the course, you need to read Nigel Warburton, Philosophy: The Essential Study Guide (London & New York: Routledge, 2008), £9.99. This is essentially a study guide for students of philosophy, but it is also a valuable contribution to study skills and critical thinking for all interested in learning. The approach of the book is what the Research Forum has always sought to promote in relation to learning, so it is a must. It is less than 100 pages and enjoyable to read.

Course Aims:

- to explain the role of and organic relationship between concepts, theories, methods and methodologies in political analysis and their impact on research results;
- to explain the dynamics, strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to political science;
- to apply these perspectives to the analysis of domestic and international politics
- to compare and contrast the potentials and limitations of each approach and assess their practical and theoretical implications for political analysis.

Learning Outcomes:

On successfully completing the module students will be able to:

- distinguish between the role of concepts, theories, methods and methodologies in research process and use them more effectively and consciously in the analysis of political events.
- demonstrate a good understanding of potentials and limitations of each perspective in political science
- compare and contrast research dynamics of each approach and their impact on research outcome
- articulate their argument with conscious, clear and well-informed reference to concepts, theories and approaches.
- demonstrate competence in a range of transferable skills including analytical, critical, communication and independent study skills.

Learning and Teaching Strategy:

The learning strategy is straightforward: the content of the three books are reorganised in the learning programme with the objective of clarifying and explaining the relevant term, concepts and approaches and the role they play in relation to each other. It is highly recommended that participants take their time in reading these books. Some chapters are easier than others, but you need to master them all before you move on.

In order to develop an in depth understanding of the concepts, theories and issues involved, it is recommended that you also choose relevant books from the list provided by the course under Further Reading below. In addition, you are also provided with further reading lists at the end of Burnham's book or at the end of each chapter in Marsh and Stoker's.

Participants are expected to read each chapter patiently and thoroughly first and then write an essay of 1000-1500 words as a summary at the end. Some questions are listed as a guide at the end of each unit.

Learning Activities

Unit 1: Dynamics of Political Analysis: Theory, Method & Methodology.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

Read the Introduction and Chapter 1 from Peter Burnham's Research Methods in Politics. The objective is to understand the boundaries of Politics as a discipline and the difference between "research methods" and "research methodology".

Now move to the Introduction and Chapter 1 from Marsh and Stoker's Theory and Methods in Political Science. The objective is to understand the concepts of ontology and epistemology and their role in the research process.

Are you able to define and distinguish between the following terms/concept: ontology, epistemology, research methods and research methodology? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.

Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? Which key terms, concepts or approaches were examined? In what ways has the chapter contributed to my analytical skills?

Unit 2: Understanding Research.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

Read Chapter 2 from Peter Burnham's Research Methods in Politics. The objective is to understand what research means and involves. The unit aims to introduce you to the idea and importance of research design.

Go through the chapter and list all subheadings: do you remember what each section was about? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.

Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what does research design mean? What does research process involve? Finally, how many types of research design can you think of?

PART I: METHODS

Unit 3: Research Sources and Tools in Political Analysis.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

Read Chapters 4, 5, 7 and 8 from Peter Burnham's Research Methods in Politics. The objective is to familiarise one with some of the research sources and tools available to political scientists: surveys and public opinions; descriptive statistics; documentary and archival analysis; and finally, the internet sources. It is important that you understand how these tools are used by researchers.

Go through the chapter and list all subheadings: do you remember what each section was about? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.

Summarise each chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: how accurate each tool is? What are the limitations and potential of each tool?

Unit 4: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

First read Chapters 9, 10 & 11 from Marsh and Stoker's Theory and Methods in Political Science and Chapters 6, 9 & 10 from Peter Burnham's Research Methods in Politics. The objective is to familiarise one with the potential as well as limitations of the choice of each method for research strategy and outcome.

Go through each chapter and list all subheadings: do you remember what each section was about? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.

Summarise each chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what are the epistemological underpinnings of each method? Will they lead to biases in the research design and outcome? Is there any benefit in combining the two methods?

Unit 5: Comparative Methods.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

First read Chapter 12 from Marsh and Stoker's Theory and Methods in Political Science and Chapter 3 from Peter Burnham's Research Methods in Politics. The objective is to familiarise one with the potential as well as limitations of the comparative method and their implications for research strategies and outcome.

Go through each chapter and list all subheadings: do you remember what each section was about? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.

Summarise each chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what are qualitative comparative strategies? In what ways do they differ from quantitative comparative strategies? And finally, what are the challenges facing the comparative method?

PART II: APPROACHES

Unit 6: The Institutionalist Approach; Behaviourial
Analysis & Rational Choice Theory.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

First read Chapters 2, 3 & 4 from Marsh and Stoker's Theory and Methods in Political Science. The objective is to understand the core features of each approach and their implications for research strategies and outcome.

Go through each chapter and list all subheadings: do you remember what each section was about? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.

Summarise each chapter in essay format. Draw a table with three columns and three rows. Now compare and contrast the ontological assumptions, the epistemological approach and methodological orientation of each.

Unit 7: Feminist and Marxist Methodologies.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

First read Chapters 5 & 7 from Marsh and Stoker's Theory and Methods in Political Science, and then Chapter 12 from Peter Burnham's Research Methods in Politics. The objective is to understand the core features of each approach and their implications for research strategies and outcome.

Go through each chapter and list all subheadings: do you remember what each section was about? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.

Summarise each chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what are the critical responses to Feminist political science? Do you agree with them? And finally, what has Marxism got to offer as an approach?

Unit 8: Interpretive and Normative Theories.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

First read Chapters 6 & 8 from Marsh and Stoker's Theory and Methods in Political Science, and then Chapter 7 from Hay's Political Analysis: A critical Introduction. The objective is to understand the role of interpretation in political analysis and implications for research strategies and outcome.

Go through each chapter and list all subheadings: do you remember what each section was about? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.

Summarise each chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what do you understand by 'subjectivity', 'rationality' and 'relativism'? What are the strengths and weaknesses of an anti-foundational approach to interpretation? How useful are Critical Theory and 'dialectics' to political analysis? And finally, can you explain 'deontological theory'?

PART III: ISSUES

Unit 9: Structure & Agency Debate.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

First read Chapter 13 from Marsh and Stoker's Theory and Methods in Political Science, and then Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4 from Hay's Political Analysis: A critical Introduction. The objective is to introduce the participants to the structure and agency debate and highlight its implications for research outcome.

Go through each chapter and list all subheadings: do you remember what each section was about? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.

Identify the main argument of each chapter. Then summarise each chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what do you understand by concepts of 'structure ' and 'agency'? how relevant is the structure and agency debate to political research?

Unit 10: Institutions and Ideas.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

First read Chapter 14 & the Conclusion from Marsh and Stoker's Theory and Methods in Political Science, and then Chapters 5, 6 & the Conclusion from Hay's Political Analysis: A critical Introduction. The objective is to understand how competing political approaches treat the same concepts of 'institutions' and 'ideas' differently, highlighting the impact of radically different ontological and epistemological positions on research outcomes.

Go through each chapter and list all subheadings: do you remember what each section was about? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.

Identify the main argument of each chapter. Then summarise each chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what do you understand by terms, historical and rational institutionalism? What do you understand by change in political analysis? And finally, should there be any space for ideas in political analysis?

Congratulation! Now that you have completed the course successfully and hopefully intend to deepen your understanding of the challenges facing political analysts, try to read more of the following books listed below.

Further Reading:

Brooke Ackerly, ed., Feminist Methodologies for International Relations (Cambridge University Press, 2006).
Margaret Archer, Being Human: The Problem of Agency (Cambridge university Press, 2000)
Margaret Archer, Roy Bhaskar, et al, Critical Realism: Essential Readings (London & New York: Routledge, 1998).
R. Bhaskar, The Possibility of Naturalism (Hemel Hampstead: Wheatsheaf, 1979).
Ted Benton and Ian Craib, Philosophy of Social Science (Palgrave, 2001).
Peter Berger & Thomas Luckmann, The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge (Penguin, 1991).
Andrew Brown, et al, ed., Critical Realism & Marxism (London: Routledge, 2001).
W. Carlsnaes, 'The Agency-Structure Problem in Foreign Policy Analysis', International Studies Quarterly, 1992, 36, pp. 245-70.
Noam Chomsky, Problems of Knowledge & Freedom (New York: The New Press, 2003).
G A Cohen, Karl Marx's Theory of History: A Defence (Oxford: Clarendon Press, Expanded edition, 2000).
Sean Creaven, Marxism & Realism: A Materialistic Application of Realism in Social Sciences (London: Routledge, 2002).
Simon Critchley and Oliver Marchart, eds., Laclau: A Critical Reader (London & New York: Routledge, 2006).
Michael Crotty, The Foundations of Social Research: Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process (Sage Publishers, 1998).
G. Delanty, Social Theory in a Changing World: Conceptions of Modernity (Cambridge: Polity, 1999).
D. Dessler, 'What is at Stake in the Agent/Structure Debate?, International Organisation, 1989, 41, 3.
Marcus E. Ethridge, The Political Research Experience: Reading and Analysis (M.E. Sharpe, 3rd edition, 2001).
Norman Fairclough, Language and Power (Longman, 1989).
Norman Fairclough, Discourse and Social Change (Polity, 2007).
Norman Fairclough, Analysing Discourse: Textual Analysis for Social Research (Routledge, 2008).
Norman Fairclough, Critical Discourse Analysis: The Critical Study of Language (Longman, 1995).
B. Fay, 'Does Our Culture or Society Make Us What We Are?', in Contemporary Philosophy of Social Science: A Multicultural Approach, (Oxford: Blackwell, 1996).
Michel Foucault, The Archaeology of Knowledge and the Discourse on Language (New York: Panthen Books, 1972).
Gil Friedman, Harvey Starr, Agency, Structure and International Politics: From Ontology to Empirical Inquiry (Routledge, 1997).
S. Fuller, 'From Content to Context: A Social Epistemology of the Structure-Agency Craze', in A. Sica, What is Social Theory? (Oxford: Blackwell, 1998). esp. pp.92-3 & 98-115.
Gamble et al, Marxism & Social Science (Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1999).
A. Giddens, Central Problems of Social Theory (London: Macmillan, 1979).
A. Giddens, Politics, Sociology and Social Theory: Encounters with Classical & Contemporary Social Thought (Cambridge: Polity, 1995).
Colin Gordon, ed., Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings, 1972-77 (Harvester 1981).
A. Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks (London, Lawrence & Wishart, 1998).
J. Habermas, Knowledge and Human Interests (London: Heinemann, 1972).
Martyn Hammersley, Social Research: Philosophy, Politics and Practice (Sage Publishers, 1992).
Colin Hay et al., The State: Theories and Issues (Palgrave, 2006).
Alan How, Critical Theory (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2002).
David Howarth, Discourse (Buckingham: Open University Press, 2000).
Fred Inglis, Cultural Studies (Oxford: Blackwell, 1994).
Jonathan Joseph, Marxism and Social Theory (Palgrave, 2006).
Stephen Kalberg, Max Weber's Comparative Historical Sociology (Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press, 1994).
T. S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press, 3rd ed. 1996).
Ernesto Laclau, Emancipation(s) (London & New York: Verso, 1996).
James Mahoney and Dietrich Rueschemeyer, Comparative Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences (Cambridge & New York: CUP, 2006).
David Marsh et al. eds., Post-War British Politics in Perspective (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1999). Kristen Renwick Monroe, ed., Contemporary Empirical Political Theory (Berkeley & London: University of California Press, 1997).
Eleonora Montuschi, The Objects of Social Science (London & New York: Continuum, 2003).
Heikki Patomaki, After International Relations: Critical Realism and the (Re)construction of World Politics (London: Routledge, 2001).
Guy Peters, Comparative Politics: Theory and Methods (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 1998).
Paul Pierson, Politics in Time: History, Institutions and Social Analysis (Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2004)
Jonathan Potter, Representing Reality: Discourse, Rhetoric and Social Construction (London: sage, 2005).
Paul Rabinow, ed., The Foucault Reader (New York: Pantheon Books, 1984).
William G. Roy, Making Societies (Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press, 2001).
Mark Rupert & Hazel Smith, Historical Materialism & Globalisation (London & New York: Routledge, 2002).
Andrew Sayer, Methods in Social Science: A Realist Approach (London: Routledge, 2002).
Andrew Sayer, Realism and Social Science (London & Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2000)
J. Schwarzmantel, The Age of Ideology (London: Macmillan, 1998).
John Searle, The Construction of Social Reality (Penguin, 1995).
Ian Shapiro, et al, eds., Problems and Methods in the Study of Politics (Cambridge University Press, 2004).
S. Smith, K. Booth & M. Zalewski (eds.), International Theory: Positivism and Beyond (Cambridge, CUP, 1996).
Arthur Stinchcombe, Constructing Social Theories (Chicago & London: Chicago university Press, 1987).
B. Sztompka, The Sociology of Social Change (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1994), Chapters13-15.
Immanuel Wallerstein, The Uncertainties of Knowledge ( Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2004).
Nigel Warburton, Philosophy: The Basics, (Rouledge,1999).
Nigel Warburton, ed., Philosophy: Basic Readings. (Routledge1999).
Nigel Warburton, Philosophy: The Classics. (Routledge, 1998).
Margaret Wetherell et al, Discourse Theory and Practice: A Reader (Sage Publications, 2007).
Margaret Wetherell, Discourse as Data: A Guide for Analysis (Sage Publications, 2001).
Ruth Wodak, Methods of Critical Discourse Analysis (Sage Pub
Colin Wright, Agents, Structures and International Relations: Politics as Ontology (Cambridge University Press, 2006).
Olin Erik Wright, Approaches to Class Analysis (Cambridge University Press, 2005).

Periodical References:

Political Science Quarterly; Review of International Studies; Thesis Eleven (Critical Theory & Historical Sociology); Politics & Society; Political Theory; Philosophy & Social Criticism; Journal of Theoretical Politics; Field Methods; Critical Social Policy; Cross-Cultural Research; Comparative Political Studies.

WWW References:

http://www.allpolitics.com
http://www.ditext.com/clay/know.html
http://plato.stanford.edu/

The Dialectics of Life and Death

The Research Forum: Construction of Social Reality Series
Copyright (C) 2007 Raouf Tajvidi

Welcome to My Funeral!

I believe this is a surreal experience for us both: after all it is not common for a dead person to address his own funeral! But the intriguing part is that I have done this more than once, as some of you know!

I must admit, as I sat down to write this lecture, I realised writing posthumously is not that easy. The mind has to be in two states, alive and dead at the same time. Of course, my experience of the living world was relatively extensive but for life after death I had to use my imagination. Surprisingly, it turned out to be the most enjoyable lecture I have ever written in my life, or death!

First, let me tell you why you are here: Curiosity. It is not often that one is invited to a lecture by a dead man. But I had to do something original. The reason being, I never believed in funerals, in the same way that I did not believe in weddings or other socially constructed categories that reduce the depth of human experience to sentimental rituals. But when I was repeatedly told by those who spent more time with me, and therefore would theoretically feel my absence more after my death, that they wanted to hold a funeral for me because they needed to console themselves somehow, I agreed to a funeral to be held, provided I give the speech!

What I intend to argue today is that you are not here to mourn my departure or celebrate my life, but to address your own emotional vulnerability because you cannot comprehend death, and most of you have tried to avoid this "unpleasant thought" throughout your life. That is why I decided that it is possibly more appropriate to provide an environment for an intellectual exchange on the topic of death in the gathering after my death. Don’t worry, it will not be heavily philosophical and you will get a reading list in case you want to pursue the matter further from now on.

The objective is to encourage you to accept death as part of life rather than perceive it as something opposite of life.

But before I go any further, I would like to ask you all to stand up and observe two minutes of silence, not for my death, but you own uncertain life ahead. May I remind you that, unlike you, I am the only one here that has no anxiety or worries about the future, every thing about my present and future state is CERTAIN - peacefully quiet. I have joined eternity, I am beyond time.

S I L E N C E !

After these thoughtful moments, let’s come back to your life, or my death!

Death as Social Construction

Generally speaking people in most societies avoid the subject: they regard the discussion of it depressing, unpleasant and futile. Death is opposite life. It is a sad thing that happens and we cannot stop it and so why should we think about it? I was not convinced by this argument. I saw death as part of life, in the same way day and night are part of the 24-hour-cylcle; spring and winter are part of the year. So, to understand and enjoy life more, one has to make sense of death.

We have to be careful not to be intimidated by our own socially-constructed categories and institutions - and death is one of them.

Most of us are from conservative societies, where they resort to religious morality as a way of maintaining virtue and order. Hence the idea of God, life and death, good and evil, heaven and hell have all become interwoven for us from childhood, creating fears of different kinds in life - with death being the ultimate form. This is true even for those of us who are from secular or atheist families: we find ourselves haunted by some sort of fear, fear of being wrong, fear of uncertainty, fear of death, and …even fear of life itself. This fear spoils the joy of living and distorts our role in making life even more beautiful, so, we have to deconstruct death in order to get rid of any fear that undermines the quality of life.

Let me begin by defining death:

Medical Death

The scientific-medical definition is “permanent cessation of all vital functions, the end of life.” The classic indicators of death are the permanent cessation of the function of the heart and lungs and in the overwhelming majority of cases these remain the criteria by which a doctor diagnoses and certifies death. In the 1960s, however, medical technology advanced to the stage where artificial (machine-assisted) maintenance of breathing and heartbeat became possible in cases where the lungs and heart would otherwise have stopped functioning due to gross structural brain damage. This promoted a re-examination of concepts of death and the development of criteria for the diagnosis of brain death. This is defined as the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem.

An individual can therefore now be certified legally dead if there is either irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or if the criteria for brain death are satisfied.

This technical definition was necessary in order to emphasise why among us today, I am the least bothered about my death - I just don’t feel anything. It also demonstrates why you feel a degree of sadness, because your brain is still functioning.

Metaphorical Death & Empowerment

There is another way of dying too: you can also die metaphorically. That is when you want to conclude a painful phase of your life and start a new stage. In this sense, today is not the first time that I have died. In fact throughout my life, particularly amidst some of its most depressing phases, I declared myself dead several times, and sought to initiate a new life with altered/new values. Of course, I started this when I was a romantic teenager and deep into poetry. What I was not aware of at the time was that I was using the idea of death in order to reinvigorate my life: this was an act of empowerment, not weakness.

Painless Death

Furthermore, throughout our lives we choose to remove people from our lives, and in most cases without much pain - and we are not even bothered by it. I am thinking of some of the schoolmates, colleagues at work or ex-girlfriends or boyfriends who fade away. Some do this to their children, parents or relatives.

Interestingly enough this sort of death does not seem to bother us that much, because we have a choice and that the process is reversible. With physical death that choice does not exist.

You and my Death

Let’s see what it is that bothers you about my death? I can think of several scenarios here:

1. We had such good times together that you now miss me badly.

I know the feeling. I went through it several times in my own life time. It is regrettable. But the good thing is that we have had so many good memories together in life that you can at least continue to think of them for as long as you are alive. No one can deny that pleasure to you.

2. You wish you had spent more time with me or being nicer to me when I was alive.

I really appreciate the thought, but life is neither about the past nor the future. Of course, you could have spent more time with me or being nicer to me, had you defined your values and priorities in life (work, family, friends…) differently. The fact is that you could not really do it, your priorities were revised several times and you just had other more important things to do. True, individuals are responsible for their decisions and they also pay a price for them. But you must also remember that the decisions you made at any one time, were the best decision you could have taken at that time. So, there is no room for regretting anything. I do understand that. Just try to prevent the cause of future regrets from now on. Life is a one-way road and you have no reverse gear! I believe, what can be consoling to you at least, is that I do not hold anything against you - I no longer have these silly human qualities!

3. You are really mourning your own death in a way, since my death has reminded you of the inherent uncertainties and anxieties of your life, in a way its meaninglessness. You know that you are also mortal and that there is no way that you can stop this incomprehensible thing. You wonder what happens to you and your loved ones when you die.

Well, let me assure you, nothing much: you will have no worries, just like me right now. As for your loved ones - they get over your death, time heals. What you need to appreciate is that the problem is not death itself, but our understanding of it. As Epictetus used to say: “…it is not events that affect us, but our interpretations of them”. Social construction of reality has equated life with eternity. So for us, living means being eternal. But be realistic, we cannot live forever, our bodies are not designed for this purpose. Even the healthiest of human beings finally dies. What you really need to do is to think about death rather than avoid thinking about it.

The sections below highlight some of the key aspects of body and mind in relation to the past, present and future:

Past: Relatively Certain, Virtual Dimension

1. Your mind spends a lot of its time here reminiscing.
2. You cannot change the past.
3. Source of pain, regret and pleasure.
4. You never die here although the moments are dead.

Present: Fluid, Real Dimension

1. Your body is always here.
2. The only real dimension of your life.
3. Conditioned by past and future
4. Construction of social reality takes place here.
5. You can shape the present.
6. Source of life.
7. You mainly physically live here.

Future: Contingent, Virtual Dimension

1. Your mind spends a lot of its time here dreaming.
2. You can change the Future.
3. Source of hope, anxiety & uncertainty
4. You will definitely die here.

What the sections above show you is that the most important and the least appreciated component of our life is the present. We waste it on reminiscing in the past or dreaming in the future. This escapism is at the root of our fear of death.

Death and Philosophers

For Buddha it was life that was the cause of suffering, not death. The Greek stoic thinker, Seneca, commented on the shortness of life: “Life is long if you know how to use it.”

The German philosopher, Heidegger, on the other hand argues that “realisation of one’s death is the key to authenticity.” By recognising that death renders everything meaningless and ends all possibilities, we come to see that we can either confront this fact or seek distraction from it. To accept it fully is not to reject participation in the life of the world. It is simply to see the activities of the world within the context of an awareness of death and to confront the absurdity of finding oneself inhabiting a life that was preceded by nothing and will be succeeded by nothing. It is this realisation that can make a person accept responsibility for his or her existence, because the nothingness that surrounds one’s existence renders everything meaningless, and that meaning and values can be bestowed only by oneself.

So, if we choose to live authentically, we have a lot to do, we have enough time to do it and by the time we get to the end of our lives there is not much that we want to do.

That is why I do not regret my own death: I enjoyed living, I did what I wanted to do, I realised some of my dreams, I failed in achieving the others, yet I always tried to live consciously and I am pleased with the peaceful deal I have now.

The three dimensions of my life, the past, present and future have now merged into one for me, eternity: I will live from now on as a memory or narrative among those of you who will from time to time think of me - of course for as long as you are alive!

Farewell!

Further Reading:

Jean-Dominique Bauby, The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly (London & New York: Harper-Perennial, 1997).
Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death (New York: First Free Press, 1997).
Klaus Bergdolt, Wellbeing: Cultural History of Healthy Living (Cambridge: Polity, 2007).
Michel Foucault, The Archaeology of Knowledge and the Discourse on Language (New York: Panthen Books, 1972).
Chris Gilleard Paul Higgs, Context of Aging: Class, Cohort and Community (Cambridge: Polity, 2005).
Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha (Picador, 1998).
Glennys Howarth, Death & Dying: A Sociological Introduction (Cambridge: Polity, 2006).
David Hume, On Suicide (Penguin, 2004).
Allan Kellehear, A Social History of Dying (CUP, 2007).
Sarah Nettleton, The Sociology of Health and Illness (Cambridge: Polity, 2006).
Sarah Payne, The Health of Men and Women (Cambridge: Polity, 2006).
John Ruskin, On Art and Life (Penguin, 2004).
Jonathan Rutherford, The Art of Life: On Living, Love and Death (London: Lawrence & Wishart, 2000).
Jean Paul Sartre, Existentialism & Humanism (London: Methuen, 1948).
Seneca, On the Shortness of Life: Life is Long If You Know How to Use It (Penguin, 1997).
Clive Seale, Constructing Death: the Sociology of Dying and Bereavement (CUP, 1998).
Carol Smart, Personal Life: New Directions in Sociological Thinking (Cambridge: Polity, 2007).

International Political Economy: An Introduction

The Research Forum: Self-taught Course Series
Copyright (C) 2008 Raouf Tajvidi

Following the lecture series on Reading Das Kapital and Marxism & its Variants in 2007-2008 at The Research Forum, there emerged an interest in the role of socio-economic factors in the analysis of domestic politics and international relations. This course is therefore designed to address that interest. The cost of the 6 books recommended on this course is approximately £75.00.

As all self-taught courses, there are three crucial requirements for the successful completion of this programme: genuine interest in the topic, commitment to learning and patiently and systematically following the teaching programme. Participants are reminded that the objective of the course is not the speed with which they complete the programme but how much they enjoy doing it. Ideally you are required to spend 12 hours a week on the course. However, since this is a self-taught course you are required to define your own pace as far as the learning objectives are concerned. What is important is that you do not move to the next task, section or chapter unless you have fully understood the terms, concepts and theories tackled under your existing brief and until you are fully satisfied with your progress.

Before you start the course, you need to read Nigel Warburton, Philosophy: The Essential Study Guide (London & New York: Routledge, 2008). £9.99. This is essentially a study guide for students of philosophy, but it is also a valuable contribution to study skills and critical thinking for all interested in learning. The approach of the book is what the Research Forum has always sought to promote in relation to learning, so it is a must. It is less than 100 pages and enjoyable to read.

Course Aims:

The aim of this course is to introduce the participants to the academic discipline of International Political Economy (IPE). The objective is to provide the students with a foundation in IPE, including key concepts, theories and basic economic history. The course concentrates on four distinct issue areas: the international trade system, the international monetary system, multinational corporations (MNCs) and economic development.

Learning and Teaching Strategy:

The learning strategy is based on one main text that structures the learning process, and several supplementary books that provide a deeper understanding of the topic and prepare the participants for Part II and III of the International Political Economy series at the Research Forum. Participants are also required to write an essay of 1000-1500 words as a summary of each chapter before moving to the next one.

Main Text:

It is highly recommended that participants take their time in reading this book. Some chapters are easier than others, but you need to master them all:

Thomas Oatley, International Political Economy: Interests and Institutions in the Global Economy (New York & London: Longman/Pearson, 2006). £29.44.

The main text recommends relevant and further reading at the end of each chapter. It is important that if you have access to a library, you borrow the books of your interest from the list and at least skim through them in order to familiarise yourself with the main argument and structure of the book. Ideally, you should read three articles or book chapters every week.

To reinforce the appreciation of the points and issues raised by the main text, the following two books make an accessible and enjoyable read alongside the main text:

Ralph Pettman, Understanding International Political Economy (Boulder & London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1996). £15.94.

John Kay, The Truth About Markets (London: Penguin, 2004). £7.25.

Finally, since a thorough appreciation of IPE requires a specialised knowledge of economics at some stage in the process, you need to start your training as soon as possible. I therefore recommend the following books in the order they appear:

Rober Heilbroner and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998). Only second hand copies available, prices vary.

John Kenneth Galbraith, A History of Economics: The Past as the Present (London: Penguin, 1991). £8.99

Teaching Programme

Session 1: International Political Economy.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 1 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapter I from John Kay, The Truth About Markets (London: Penguin, 2004) and chapter I from Ralph Pettman, Understanding International Political Economy (Boulder & London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1996).

Session 2: The WTO and the World Trade System.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 2 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapter II from John Kay, The Truth About Markets (London: Penguin, 2004) and chapters II & IV from Ralph Pettman, Understanding International Political Economy (Boulder & London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1996).

Session 3: The Political Economy of International Trade Cooperation.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 3 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapter III from John Kay, The Truth About Markets (London: Penguin, 2004) and chapter V from Ralph Pettman, Understanding International Political Economy (Boulder & London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1996).

Session 4: A Society-Centred Approach to the Politics of Trade.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 4 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapter IV from John Kay, The Truth About Markets (London: Penguin, 2004).

Session 5: A State-Centred Approach to Trade Politics.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 5 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapter V from John Kay, The Truth About Markets (London: Penguin, 2004) and chapter VII from Ralph Pettman, Understanding International Political Economy (Boulder & London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1996).

Session 6: Trade and Development I: Import Substitution Industrialisation.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 6 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapter VI from John Kay, The Truth About Markets (London: Penguin, 2004) and chapter VIII from Ralph Pettman, Understanding International Political Economy (Boulder & London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1996).

Session 7: Trade and Development II: Economic Reform.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 7 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapter IX from Ralph Pettman, Understanding International Political Economy (Boulder & London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1996) and chapters 1-3 from Rober Heilbroner and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998).

Session 8: Multinational Corporations in the Global Economy.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 8 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapters 4 & 5 from Rober Heilbroner and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998).

Session 9: The Politics of Multinational Corporations.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 9 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapters 6 & 7 from Rober Heilbroner and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998).

Session 10: The International Monetary System.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 10 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapter VI from Ralph Pettman, Understanding International Political Economy (Boulder & London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1996).

Session 11: Contemporary International Monetary Arrangements.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 11 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapters 8 & 9 from Rober Heilbroner and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998).

Session 12: A Society-Centred Approach to Monetary and Exchange-Rate
Policies.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 12 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapters 10 & 11 from Rober Heilbroner and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998).

Session 13: A State-Centred Approach to Monetary and Exchange-Rate Policies

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 13 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapters 12 & 13 from Rober Heilbroner and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998).

Session 14: Developing Countries and International Finance:
The Latin American Debt Crisis.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 14 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapters 14 & 15 from Rober Heilbroner and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998).

Session 15: Developing Countries and International Finance: A Decade of Crises.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 15 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapters 16 & 17 from Rober Heilbroner and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998).

Session 16: Globalisation: Consequences and Controversies.

It is important that you follow these steps in order:

1. Read chapter 16 from Thomas Oatley’s International Political Economy.
2. Go through the Key Terms at the end of the chapter: Do you remember what they were? If not, re-read the relevant sections. Make sure you have a clear understanding of them before moving on.
3. Spend an hour or two exploring the Web Links and Suggestions for Further Reading recommended at the end of the chapter.
4. Summarise the chapter in essay format. The main questions to answer are: what was the main argument of the chapter? What were the key concepts and theories examined? In what ways the chapter has contributed to my thinking of international political economy?
5. Now read chapters 18 & 19 from Rober Heilbroner and Lester Thurow, Economics Explained (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998).

Congratulation! Now that you have completed the course successfully and hopefully developed a keener interest in international political economy, you need to make sure you read John Kenneth Galbraith, A History of Economics: The Past as the Present (London: Penguin, 1991).

Further Reading:

Theodore H. Cohen, Global Political Economy: Theory and Practice (New York & London: Longman/Pearson, 3rd edition, 2005).
Spyros Economides and Peter Wilson, The Economic Factor in International Relations: A Brief Introduction (London & New York: I B Tauris, 2001).
Robert Gilpin, The Challenge of Global Capitalism: The World Economy in the 21st Century (Princeton & Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2000)
Milton Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom (Chicago & London: Chicago University Press, 2002).
F. A. Hayek, The Road to Serfdom (Chicago & London: Chicago University Press, 1994).
David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism (Oxford: OUP, 2005).
Hirst, P. and G. Thompson, Globalization in Question: the International Economy and the Possibilities of Governance (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1996).
Alfredo Saad-Filho and Deborah Johnston, eds., Neoliberalism: A Critical Reader (London: Pluto Press, 2005).
Schwartz, Herman, States versus Markets (London, Macmillan, 1994).
Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations Books I-III (London: Penguin, 1987).
John Stopford and Susan Strange, Rival States, Rival Firms: Competition for World Market Shares (Cambridge: CUP, 1998).
Strange, Susan, State and Markets (London: Pinter, 1988).

Journals and Periodicals:

Review of International Political Economy, International Organisation, Harvard Business Review, New Political Economy, Economy and Society, World Politics, World Development, the Economist and the Financial Times.

Websites:

http://www.imf.org/
http://www.worldbank.org/
http://www.oecd.org/
www.wsws.org/
http://www.ft.com/
http://www.neweconomics.org/