Syllabus. Further files and details are available at the Moodle system
Ing. Vilém Semerák, M.A., Ph.D.
Annotation -
The class aims to provide students with a basic introduction to the “international political economy” (IPE) field. The course is based on the active participation of students who are required to read compulsory literature for each class and debate the papers. The course relies on two streams of literature: academic literature (papers and textbooks) and topical articles/papers covering current policy issues (e.g. The Economist, Foreign Affairs, Policy Briefs). The goal of this approach to literature is to use IPE research as guidance in real-world policy debates that help us understand actual (and often opposing) positions of policymakers.
The main “applied” or policy focus of the course is on the debates associated with recent changes in the global economy, attitudes of main actors (USA, China, EU) and possible causes of the changes. We will try to understand the economic dimensions of current global trends and their possible implications for the future of global economic governance.
Within the broad scope of traditional IPE topics, we are going to focus more on issues closer to traditional economics, and rational choice approaches, i.e. the course is focused more on concepts and models rather than on memorising institutional details of current or previous global economic affairs. In line with the focus of current global affairs and with the specialisation of the lecturers, we will primarily focus on issues linked with international trade and globalisation.
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (19.02.2026)
Kurz je vyučován v anglickém jazyce.
Detailnější a častěji aktualizované informace ke kurzu jsou k dispozici na Moodle. Přístupové informace budou zaslány všem studentům zaregistrovaným v SISu.
V jarním semestru 2025/26 bude kurz vyučován již pouze tradičním způsobem, tj. nebude streamován ani nahráván.
The class aims to provide students with a basic introduction to the “international political economy” (IPE) field. The course is based on the active participation of students who are required to read compulsory literature for each class and debate the papers. The course relies on two streams of literature: academic literature (papers and textbooks) and topical articles/papers covering current policy issues (e.g. The Economist, Foreign Affairs, Policy Briefs). The goal of this approach to literature is to use IPE research as guidance in real-world policy debates that help us understand actual (and often opposing) positions of policymakers.
The main “applied” or policy focus of the course is on the debates associated with recent changes in the global economy, attitudes of main actors (USA, China, EU) and possible causes of the changes. We will try to understand the economic dimensions of current global trends and their possible implications for the future of global economic governance.
Within the broad scope of traditional IPE topics, we are going to focus more on issues closer to traditional economics, and rational choice approaches, i.e. the course is focused more on concepts and models rather than on memorising institutional details of current or previous global economic affairs. In line with the focus of current global affairs and with the specialisation of the lecturers, we will primarily focus on issues linked with international trade and globalisation.
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (19.02.2026)
Aim of the course -
After passing this course, the students should be able to answer the following questions:
How does the IPE differ from international trade/finance, from traditional economics or from geopolitics?
What are the main group and individual interests which influence the formation of policies, and how are they transformed/aggregated into actual policies?
How has the global trade framework based on GATT/WTO come into existence? What could replace it?
How has the relationship between states, influential companies (multinationals, national champions) developed during the last decades? Who has the actual power?
What do we know about the factors and interests that influence a country's decisions about its monetary arrangements (own currency or Euro, fixed or floating exchange rate)?
How and why we can fail to prevent significant crises (e.g. the global financial crisis of 2008/9)?
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (19.02.2026)
After passing this course, the students should be able to answer the following questions:
How does the IPE differ from international trade/finance, from traditional economics or from geopolitics?
What are the main group and individual interests which influence the formation of policies, and how are they transformed/aggregated into actual policies?
How has the global trade framework based on GATT/WTO come into existence? What could replace it?
How has the relationship between states, influential companies (multinationals, national champions) developed during the last decades? Who has the actual power?
What do we know about the factors and interests that influence a country's decisions about its monetary arrangements (own currency or Euro, fixed or floating exchange rate)?
How and why we can fail to prevent significant crises (e.g. the global financial crisis of 2008/9)?
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (19.02.2026)
Course completion requirements -
Each student is expected to write the final exam and to actively participate in two group assignments. The final grade thus consists of four components with the following maximum numbers of points:
Activity
Maximum amount of points
Final Exam
70
Quizzes
10
Group Assignment I
10
Group Assignment II
10
Bonus Points
10
The final grade will be determined by the sum of all points that the student has gained throughout the semester according to the usual scale: A = 100- 91, B = 90-81, C = 80-71, D = 70-61, E = 60-51, F = 50-0
Students must also achieve at least 25 points from the final exam in order to pass the course successfully.
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (19.02.2026)
Each student is expected to write the final exam and to actively participate in two group assignments. The final grade thus consists of four components with the following maximum numbers of points:
Activity
Maximum amount of points
Final Exam
70
Quizzes
10
Group Assignment I
10
Group Assignment II
10
Bonus Points
10
The final grade will be determined by the sum of all points that the student has gained throughout the semester according to the usual scale: A = 100- 91, B = 90-81, C = 80-71, D = 70-61, E = 60-51, F = 50-0
Students must also achieve at least 25 points from the final exam in order to pass the course successfully.
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (19.02.2026)
Literature -
Each lecture will be linked with several two types of literature: compulsory and supplementary sources. There are two main textbooks which provide wider and traditional coverage of topics typical for the IPE.
Broome A. (2014) Issues and Actors in the Global Political Economy. Palgrave Macmillan.
Ravenhill J. (2014 or 2017) Global Political Economy. Oxford University Press
Alternatively, you can also try: Oatley A. (2016) International Political Economy
Reading the whole textbooks is not mandatory (if not otherwise explicitly stated), in fact, given relatively limited space and the plethora of IPE perspectives we will not be covering all the included topics/approaches in detail. However, the lectures are always reflecting specific textbook chapters and having access to the textbooks will be useful. Therefore, they are the main source for a better understanding of the lectures and debated topics.
Another good source of interesting papers (introductory but also advanced) is:
Weingast, B. R. and Wittman, D. (2008). The Oxford handbook of political economy. Oxford University Press.
If you are interested in the history of global economic relations (and if you want to get some insight into these topics) in a rather readable form, we can recommend the following texts:
Bernstein, W.J. (2008). A Splendid Exchange – How Trade Shaped the World. Atlantic Monthly Press, New York
Frankopan P. (2015) The Silk Roads – A New History of the World. Bloomsbury
If you want to get an interesting insight into the geopolitical level of related arguments, we recommend:
Marshall, T. (2016): Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World
These three texts are not compulsory, but individual chapters may be assigned as reading for assignments/debates.
We would also like to encourage you to read sources such as Foreign Affairs journal for an up-to-date introduction to current debates in international relations and IPE.
Last update: Paulus Michal, Mgr., Ph.D., MBA (25.01.2021)
Each lecture is provided with several two types of literature: compulsory and supplementary sources. The subject is based on two main textbooks:
· Broome A. (2014) Issues and Actors in the Global Political Economy. Palgrave Macmillan.
· Ravenhill J. (2014 or 2017) Global Political Economy. Oxford University Press
The whole textbooks are not mandatory (if not otherwise explicitly stated) however the lectures are always reflecting specific textbook chapters. Therefore they are the main source for a better understanding of the lectures and debated topics.
Another good source of interesting papers (introductory but also advanced) is:
· Weingast, B. R. and Wittman, D. (2008). The Oxford handbook of political economy. Oxford University Press.
Compulsory papers (the list might be updated during the course):
Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. A. (2006). Paths of economic and political development. In The Oxford handbook of political economy.
Akerlof G.A., Shiller, R.J.: Phishing for Phools The Economics of Manipulation and Deception. Chapter 2 – Reputation Mining and the Financial Crisis
Bell, S. R., & Long, A. G. (2016). Trade Interdependence and the Use of Force: Do Issues Matter? International Interactions, 42(5), 750-773
Blanchard, O. J. (2008). The crisis: basic mechanisms, and appropriate policies.
Brewster, R. (2014). The Domestic and International Enforcement of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. Chicago Journal of International Law, 15(1), 84–109.
Busse, M., & Gröning, S. (2013). The resource curse revisited: governance and natural resources. Public choice, 154(1-2), 1-20.
Cecchetti, S.G. and K.L. Schoenholtz (2016). Money, banking and financial markets. New York: McGraw Hill Education. Excerpt from Chapter 19: Exchange-rate policy and central bank, pp. 536 - 547.
Cuervo-Cazurra, A. (2008). The effectiveness of laws against bribery abroad. Journal of International Business Studies, 39(4), 634-651.
Deudney, D., Ikenberry, G.J. (2018). Liberal World. The Resilient Order. Foreign Affairs, August 2018
Dreher, A., & Fuchs, A. (2015). Rogue aid? An empirical analysis of China's aid allocation. Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, 48(3), 988-1023.
Fouquin, M., & Hugot, J. (2016). Back to the Future: International Trade Costs and the Two Globalizations. CEPII Document de travail, (2016-13).
Haas, R. (2019): How a World Order Ends. And What Comes in Its Wake. Foreign Affairs, February 2019
Hatton, T. J. (2007). Should we have a WTO for international migration? Economic Policy, 22(50), 340-383.
Helleiner, E. (2011). Understanding the 2007–2008 global financial crisis: Lessons for scholars of international political economy. Annual Review of Political Science, 14, 67-87.
Kotkin, S. (2018). Realist World. The Players Change but the Game Remains. Foreign Affairs, August 2018
Nye, J.S. (2017): Will the Liberal Order Survive? Foreign Affairs January/February 2017, Volume 96, Number 1
Obstfeld M., Rogoff K. (2009): Global Imbalances and the Financial Crisis: Products of the Common Causes. CEPR Discussion Paper No. DP7606:
Ostry, J. D., Loungani, P., & Furceri, D. (2016). Neoliberalism: oversold. Finance & Development, 53(2), 38-41.
Rodrik, D. (2011). The globalization paradox: democracy and the future of the world economy. WW Norton & Company. CH 3
Foreign Affairs (2017/2). China and the World
The Economist – Special Report on Liberalization of Trade (2016)
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (19.11.2019)
Syllabus -
No.
Topic
Date
Lecturer
1
Introduction to IPE: Theoretical Perspectives, Main Actors and Short History of Global Economy
February 19
VS
2
The International Political Economy of Taxation: From Profit Shifting to Global Tax Reform
February 26
TB
3
Cooperation and Conflicts, New x Old Superpowers
March 5
VS
4
World Trade System, International Trade Cooperation
March 12
VS
5
Trade Regimes and Regional Cooperation, PTAs and RTAs
March 19
VS
6
Weaponized Interdependence and Economic Coercion
March 26
VS
7
Dean’s day
April 2
8
Political Economy of Development
April 9
MP
9
Globalization in Retreat? States, Multinationals, and the Return of Power Politics in the Era of Neo-Royalism
April 16
TB
10
Corruption in International Economy: Its Regulation and Natural Resource Curse
April 23
MP
11
Oligarchization and State Capture
April 30
TB
12
International Monetary Relations
May 7
VS
13
Global Financial Networks and Alternative Systems
May 14
VS
Seminars
1
History of global economy
February 20
VS
2
Tax Havens
March 6
TB
3
Trade policy formation
March 20
VS
Great Friday
April 3
4
Assignment #1: Presentations and discussion
April 17
MP/VS/TB
Holiday
May 1
5
Assignment #2: Presentations and discussion
May 15
MP/VS/TB
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (19.02.2026)
No.
Topic
Date
Lecturer
1
Introduction to IPE: Theoretical Perspectives, Main Actors and Short History of Global Economy
February 19
VS
2
The International Political Economy of Taxation: From Profit Shifting to Global Tax Reform
February 26
TB
3
Cooperation and Conflicts, New x Old Superpowers
March 5
VS
4
World Trade System, International Trade Cooperation
March 12
VS
5
Trade Regimes and Regional Cooperation, PTAs and RTAs
March 19
VS
6
Weaponized Interdependence and Economic Coercion
March 26
VS
7
Dean’s day
April 2
8
Political Economy of Development
April 9
MP
9
Globalization in Retreat? States, Multinationals, and the Return of Power Politics in the Era of Neo-Royalism
April 16
TB
10
Corruption in International Economy: Its Regulation and Natural Resource Curse
April 23
MP
11
Oligarchization and State Capture
April 30
TB
12
International Monetary Relations
May 7
VS
13
Global Financial Networks and Alternative Systems
May 14
VS
Seminars
1
History of global economy
February 20
VS
2
Tax Havens
March 6
TB
3
Trade policy formation
March 20
VS
Great Friday
April 3
4
Assignment #1: Presentations and discussion
April 17
MP/VS/TB
Holiday
May 1
5
Assignment #2: Presentations and discussion
May 15
MP/VS/TB
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (19.02.2026)
Course registration requirements -
There are no specific pre-requisites for this course.
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (24.10.2019)
Tento kurz je zcela vyučován v angličtině a zahrnuje studium velkého množství textu v tomto jazyce.
Last update: Semerák Vilém, Ing., M.A., Ph.D. (19.11.2019)
