2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PIED2220 North-South Linkages

20 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Jorg Wiegratz
Email: J.Wiegratz@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module explores the principal forms of the political-economic relationship and interaction between the industrialised Global North and the newly industrialised/developing Global South. It analyses the key drivers, characteristics, and repercussions of this relationship, including how and in whose interests this structure operates. The roles of international organisations that mediate relations between North and South – for instance the World Bank – will be studied. Structures and processes of global production, trade, regulation and standards will be discussed, analysing their properties and identifying points of tensions and conflicts between Northern and Southern agendas and interests. Another topic is economic fraud in the global economy; with special reference to cases that implicate powerful actors from the North. The possible impacts of the global economic crisis and the rise of new economic powers (BRICs) on states and markets in both North and South will also be considered. Throughout the course, students will explore: (i) key factors underlying differences in power and levels of material development between countries in the North and South, (ii) drivers of change in the North-South relationship, and (ii) the connection between power, wealth, poverty, and social harm and suffering. During the course of the module, students will be introduced to key concepts in social science to further the analysis. Transferable skills include the ability to analyse the workings of complex international and global systems, institutions and actors critically, and to make interpretations and assessments of controversial issues using evidence, literature sources, case examples, independent and critical thinking, as well as creativity.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students will:
- be able to outline and analyse the principle forms of the political-economic relationship and interaction between the industrialised Global North and the newly industrialised/developing Global South
- have an appreciation of the international organisations which have mediated relations between North and South during the post-1945 period;
- be able to analyse key characteristics of global production, trade, regulation and standards
- be able to identify past and current points of tension and conflict between the political-economic interests and agendas of northern and southern countries.

Syllabus

1. The making of the contemporary global political economy
2. International institutions and aid
3. Global production and trade
4. Exports from the South
5. Labour in the South
6. Global standards
7. Fair trade
8. Economic fraud
9. The rise of the BRICs
10. The current economic crisis

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students will be required to prepare for discussions in seminars through extensive reading of sources listed on the module reading list. In addition to this, students should spend time preparing for their assessments which should include finding and using sources not listed on their reading list.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Students will be asked to write a non-assessed 1000 formative assignment which they can submit to the tutor to receive formative feedback – the feedback will help students prepare for the assessed essay and think through the case-study for the essay.

In addition, students are invited to participate in academic support hours to discuss their essay throughout the semester to prepare for the final essay’s submission.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 3000 End of Term Essay	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 29/04/2024 16:19:20

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