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Lehrende: Prof. Dr. Heribert Dieter
Veranstaltungsart:
Seminar / Übung
Orga-Einheit: Politics, Administration & International Relations
Anzeige im Stundenplan:
Global Gov.
Semesterwochenstunden:
3
Credits:
5,0
Standort:
Campus der Zeppelin Universität
Unterrichtssprache:
Englisch
Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl:
5 | 25
Prioritätsschema: Standard-Priorisierung
Inhalte:
Whilst there has been a lot of debate on the key institutions of Global Economic Governance in recent years, their position in international economic relations and their contribution to the governance of the global economy are far from clear. Despite the resurrection of the International Monetary Fund since 2008, the future role of the IMF may be more limited than its supporters suggest. The IMF is suffering both from its failure in Greece and from unresolved internal governance issues. The USA is blocking a proposal to reduce the weight of European countries and increase the shares of emerging economies. Some US observers have even suggested recreating the IMF – without the USA.
In trade, the situation is equally bleak. The member countries of the WTO continue to be unable to finish the Doha-Round of trade negotiations, and in addition, preferential trade agreements pose a powerful alternative to the global regulation of trade. In particular, the currently negotiated “mega-regionals” TTIP and TPP may pose a threat to the WTO.
The G-20, hailed as the new key forum for Global Governance, fails to deliver and may have turned into a talk shop in a short period. However, China will hold the presidency of the G-20 in 2016 and is showing ambition to turn its presidency into a success.
Outline:
In the seminar, we will both look at the historical evolution of global governance, the international economic order as well as at contemporary issues. The approach applied is international political economy, but the seminar is open to both students using established international relations approaches as well as to macroeconomists that traditionally examine international economic relations from a different perspective.
Three main topics will be discussed: Finance, trade and governance.
1) On finance:
Over the last 150 years, the shape of the international financial order has changed significantly. Whilst capital flows were not restricted before 1914, they were regulated from then until 1973. What has been the rationale for regulation as well as for non-regulation? What is the mandate of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)? How do the perceptions of financial globalization differ between developing countries and the OECD-economies? How do the two recent crises affect the future of global financial governance?
2) On trade:
International in goods and (increasingly) in services has been a major force in international economic relations. The World Trade Organization WTO governs these processes. Simultaneously, the WTO is criticized for being a burden for the poor and the rich: Some argue the WTO is facilitating the exploitation of developing countries, others argue the WTO permits the undermining of social standards in the North. Furthermore, the WTO appears to be increasingly undermined by competing regimes, in particular by preferential trade agreements. Why are these highly bureaucratic and administratively complex trade agreements so popular? What are the reasons for the widespread opposition against TTIP? In addition, why are the benefits of preferential trade agreements regularly overestimated?
3) On governance:
The G-20, created as a finance ministers meeting after the Asian crisis and elevated to leaders' level with the first G-20 summit in November 2008, has undoubtedly the potential to become the key institutions for Global Economic Governance. Yet, the G-20 is approaching its 8th year of existence with little glory. What are the reasons for the apparent weakness of the G-20? Is the G-20 the appropriate answer to the rise of the BRICs? Are the transatlantic powers prepared for the changing power distribution? What are the prospects for the emergence of a new international economic order? Is it necessary to keep the G-7?
Lernziele:
Students will analyze the history of international economic relations as well as very recent debates on issues related to trade, finance and governance. They will understand the inherent weaknesses of cooperation processes and will be able to apply these skills in the evaluation of current and future issue of Global Economic Governance. Students will analyze the legitimacy of the main institutions of economic governance (IMF, WTO) and will discuss potential avenues for the improvement of the perception of the institutions.
Weitere Informationen zu den Prüfungsleistungen:
- The course will be taught in English. Thus, fluency in English is essential.
- Each participant will have to make two presentations in the seminar (20 to 30 minutes), and participate actively in the debate.
- Composition of assessment: Presentation 50%, paper 50%.
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