This subject explores the impacts of globalisation on our contemporary political economy. Over the past few decades, as nation-states have found it increasingly difficult to manage sprawling networks of global interdependence, states have become part of broader governance networks that include relations with a variety of nonstate, international and supranational actors.Not surprisingly, these changes have provoked controversies about the supposed benefits and harms of globalisation, and raise important questions about whose interests are served by the contemporary global economy. This subject explores debates about globalisation, focussing on understanding global governance and conceptualising the role of nation-states and other actors in the contemporary political economy. We also take a look at the nature and extent of regionalisation and globalisation in trade, finance and culture and the implications for governance within and between states. Finally, we address the main ethical challenges in contemporary political economy, focussing on the problem of poverty, environmental degradation, and the impacts of globalisation on democracy.

Subject rules