Global Public Policy

This course provides students with key theoretical concepts necessary to the study of economic globalisation and its regulation, as well as tools of empirical analysis to examine contemporary case studies of global public policy. It highlights the history of globalization and its intertwined but conflictual relation with the nation-state, the debates, obstacles and disputes related to the possibility and desirability of the regulation of economic globalization- and therefore the possibility and desirability of public policy on a global scale.  In so doing, it tackles questions related to democracy, sovereignty, development, hierarchies (economic and non-economic), power, social welfare, among others.

 The course will address:

• History of economic globalization and its regulation
• Actors of economic globalization (states, enterprises, international organizations)
• Instruments (numbers and rankings, norms)
• Case studies (such as, but not exclusively, development, digital platform and AI regulation, or trade)
• The fragmentation of the world and the challenges of global public policy

By the end of the semester, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the history of economic globalization and theoretical debates surrounding it
• Identify key actors and instruments of global public policy, their characteristics, logics and limits
• Intervene in key debates related to the regulation of economic globalization through appropriate theoretical and methodological tools
• Analyze contemporary empirical case studies thanks to tools learnt in class.

Connaissances et compétences pré-requises ou co-requises

Although there is no prerequisite for this course, students will perform better if equipped with knowledge of the general history of the late 19th/the 20th/the early 21st centuries and if they keep themselves informed of current news through reading newspapers and listening to relevant podcasts or radio programs.

The class will be taught in 12 sessions of 2 hours.

Methods include ex-cathedra lectures, compulsory readings (to be read rigorously and to prepare each session), and discussions based on compulsory readings where active participation is expected.

Students are expected to take notes actively during lectures and discussions. PPTs will contain key information (such as plans of lectures, key references, maps, images, graphs, etc.) but will not substitute the lectures. Students will have access to the compulsory readings and PPTs via UV, and they cannot share the material outside UV without instructor’s permission.

Références, bibliographie et lectures recommandées

A detailed list of required and recommended readings will be provided on the UV at the beginning of the term.

Support(s) de cours

• Université virtuelle
• Syllabus

Contacts

For questions, please contact Professor Juliette Schwak: juliette.schwak@ulb.be
 

Campus

Solbosch

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

• Examen écrit

Examen écrit

• Question ouverte à réponse courte
• Question ouverte à développement long

The language of assessment is English.

The assessment will consist of a final written, closed-books exam (during exam sessions). It will include definitions and open questions on all course material.  

Construction de la note (en ce compris, la pondération des notes partielles)

The final grade represents 100% of the grade.

Langue(s) d'évaluation

• anglais