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INR481

International Economic Relations

This course examines the nature of international economic relations, focusing on the character of the international economic order since 1945. It covers dominant states in the global economy, the Bretton Woods institutions, theories of international trade, and global trade dilemmas. The course also explores the politics of foreign aid, economic sanctions, and international enforcements. It begins with pre-World War 2 economic management and extends to contemporary economic management.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
150 hours
Maths
Basic
Content
Theoretical, case study
Practical work
No
How it is assessed
  • Assignments
  • Tutor Marked Assessments
  • Final Examination

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

INR481 · UNIT 3: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT BEFORE WORLD WAR II

The unit has cursorily but penetrative examined the Mercantilist Period which is a period of intense economic nationalism; the Industrial Revolution and British Hegemony, a period in which British advancement in industry led to its domination of the international system; the Decline of British Hegemony and World War I, the Interwar Period and the Institutional Framework.

What you should be able to do

  1. Understand the key concepts and theories of international economic relations.
  2. Analyze the roles of international organizations in global economic governance.
  3. Evaluate the impact of globalization on national economies.
  4. Assess the challenges and opportunities of economic development in the Third World.
  5. Critically examine contemporary issues in the international economic system.

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • International Economist
  • Policy Analyst
  • Trade Negotiator
  • Financial Analyst
  • Development Consultant
Where it is applied
  • Government
  • International Organizations
  • Financial Institutions
  • Consulting Firms
  • Research Institutes

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module 2: The Major Strands in the Management of International Relations

    Unit 3: The East-West System

    Requires understanding of complex historical and political factors that shaped the East-West divide and its economic implications.

  • Module 3: Understanding the Role of IGOs and Transnational Corporations in the International Economic System

    Unit 2: International Monetary Fund

    Involves grasping the intricate operational mechanisms and policy mandates of the IMF, requiring a solid foundation in macroeconomics.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 39 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1: International Economic System at a Glance
    • Unit 1: Nexus between Economics and politics · 3 hours

      Read the introduction to understand the nexus between economics and politics.. Study historical perspectives on the relationship between economics and politics.. Examine how political concerns shape economic policy..

  2. Week 2Module 1: International Economic System at a Glance
    • Unit 2: Contending Perspectives on International Economic Relations · 3 hours

      Identify and understand the three dominant perspectives of IPE: economic liberalism, mercantilism, and structuralism.. Analyze the values, actors, and solutions emphasized by each perspective.. Discuss the relationship between the three ideologists of International Economic System..

  3. Week 3Module 1: International Economic System at a Glance
    • Unit 3: International Economic Management before World War 2 · 3 hours

      Understand the processes of economic management before World War II.. Examine the Mercantilist Period and its impact on global economic relations.. Identify the rationale behind the decline of British Hegemony and World War I..

  4. Week 4Module 1: International Economic System at a Glance
    • Unit 4: International Economic Management after World War II · 3 hours

      Discuss the international economic system that prevailed in the aftermath of World War II.. Analyze the factors that disarticulated the Bretton Woods system in the 1970s.. Examine the role of the United States in managing the international economic system..

  5. Week 5Module 1: International Economic System at a Glance
    • Unit 5: Contemporary International Economic Management · 3 hours

      Examine the reasons for the rise of institutional frameworks in the management of the international economic system.. Discuss the point rational behind the collapse of the immediate post Second World War framework.. Analyze the impact of American foreign policy on the international political economy..

  6. Week 6Module 2: The Major Strands in the Management of International Relations
    • Unit 1: The Western System · 3 hours

      Discuss the mode of economic management in the aftermath of the Second World War.. Enumerate the reasons for the rise and fall of the economic institutions.. Examine the role of the United States in managing the system from 1947 to 1960..

  7. Week 7Module 2: The Major Strands in the Management of International Relations
    • Unit 2: The North-South System · 3 hours

      Discuss the History of North-South economic interaction China and account for its interaction with the west.. Account for the imbalances in the economic relationship between North and South.. Understand the economic implication and benefit of relationship between South and North..

  8. Week 8Module 2: The Major Strands in the Management of International Relations
    • Unit 3: The East-West System · 3 hours

      Explain the success of East and West Economic Relation.. Understand the politics that led to change in the East.. Examine the forces for change in the west..

  9. Week 9Module 2: The Major Strands in the Management of International Relations
    • Unit 4: The South-South System · 3 hours

      Understand the key argument behind South-South cooperation.. Explain the impact of South-South cooperation on its development.. Examine the global features for South- South integration..

  10. Week 10Module 3: Understanding the Role of IGOs and Transnational Corporations in the International Economic System
    • Unit 1: World Bank · 3 hours

      Explain the activities, successes and failures of the World Bank.. Identify areas of weakness and strength of the World Bank.. Examine the politics behind the operation of the world bank towards promoting Global economy..

  11. Week 11Module 3: Understanding the Role of IGOs and Transnational Corporations in the International Economic System
    • Unit 2: International Monetary Fund · 3 hours

      Discuss the factors responsible for the setting up of the IMF.. Understand the present tasks of the IMF.. Examine the politics behind the operation of IMF..

  12. Week 12Module 3: Understanding the Role of IGOs and Transnational Corporations in the International Economic System
    • Unit 3: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development · 3 hours

      Identify the process for the establishment of the UNCTAD.. State the achievements of the UNCTAD.. Discuss the politics behind the operation of UNCTAD..

  13. Week 13Module 3: Understanding the Role of IGOs and Transnational Corporations in the International Economic System
    • Unit 4: World Trade Organisation · 3 hours

      Discuss the reasons behind the setting up of the World Trade Organisation.. Understand the extent to which the WTO has achieved their objectives.. Identify the areas of weakness and strength of WTO..

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Review key concepts and theories from each module.
  • Focus on understanding the roles and functions of international organizations.
  • Analyze case studies of countries and regions to apply theoretical knowledge.
  • Practice answering essay questions on major topics.
  • Create concept maps linking different modules and units.
  • Allocate study time proportionally to the weight of each module in the final exam.

Questions students ask about this course

What is INR481 about?

This course examines the nature of international economic relations, focusing on the character of the international economic order since 1945. It covers dominant states in the global economy, the Bretton Woods institutions, theories of international trade, and global trade dilemmas. The course also explores the politics of foreign aid, economic sanctions, and international enforcements. It begins with pre-World War 2 economic management and extends to contemporary economic management.

How many units does INR481 have?

INR481, International Economic Relations, has 22 units across 5 modules, over 142 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is INR481?

INR481 carries 2 credit units, at 400 level in Social Sciences.

Is INR481 hard?

INR481 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.

How long does INR481 take to study?

About 150 hours of study, spread across its 22 units.

How is INR481 assessed?

INR481 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assessments and Final Examination.

What can I do with INR481?

International Economist, Policy Analyst, Trade Negotiator, Financial Analyst and Development Consultant.

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