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PL30879: Modern silk roads: international trade in a global economy

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2017/8
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: ES 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • PL 30879 - Policy Brief (ES 50%)
  • Essay (ES 50%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
The unit focuses on a key area of International Political Economy theory, namely the global trading system. It offers a theoretical overview of the main aspects of the system, including a brief history of trade policies and trade arrangements; the WTO; regional trade arrangements and current arrangements outside of the WTO. The unit engages the changing nature of the global trade system and analyses current challenges to the established WTO system stemming from emerging and developing states, and also from the financial and economic crisis. The last sessions of the unit concentrate on current controversies surrounding trade policy, which link to other aspects of International Political Economy and International Relations (e.g. trade and the environment, trade and technology, trade and human rights).

Learning Outcomes:
Students successfully completing the unit will demonstrate:
* a good understanding of the WTO system;
* knowledge of the main theoretical debates surrounding trade, the WTO and non-WTO trade arrangements;
* awareness of the history of trade and globalisation.

Skills:
Skills in critical analysis, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument, effective communication, teamwork and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are developed and assessed in this unit.

Content:
1. Trade and globalisation then and now
2. Theories of trade
3. The GATT/WTO: ushering in an era of free trade?
4. Trade and development and the WTO Doha Round
5. Challenges to the WTO system: multilateralism vs bilateralism?
6. Trade and the environment
7. Trade and labour and human rights: sweat shops, consumption, jobs
8. Trade and technology: intellectual property rights, privacy, espionage
9. Trade, food, health and revolutions
10. Trade in an era of economic and financial crisis: continuity and change.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PL30879 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Economics
  • UHES-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics (Year 3)
  • UHES-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHES-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHES-ACB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics with Combined Placement and Study Abroad (Year 4)
Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AFB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations (Year 3)
  • UHPL-AAB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AKB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics (Year 3)
  • UHPL-AAB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes: