3908 Business and World Politics , 8 sp
The aim of the course is to provide students an understanding of political and economic relations in the globalised business environment. The course particularly emphasizes challenges of global governance and the roles of business actors and non-governmental organizations.
The course is structured as follows:
1) The main theories of international relations are introduced, with an explanation of what the role of business is supposed to be in each of them
2) 6 global issues (war and peace and business, global trade, role of non-state actors in world politics, global environmental issues, global development issues, global trend to regionalization), all highly relevant to business, are discussed in separate sessions
3) each of the 6 above sessions is connected to two debates in which student teams either play the role of certain organizations as debaters (2 teams per debate) or act as moderators (1 team per debate)
The course can be taken as part of the Study Module in Corporate Responsibility.
The course is given every other year, see Additional information.
You have an understanding of political and economic relations in the globalised business environment.
- apply theories from international relations to real-world political and economic issues
- discuss the challenges of international governance relating to a range of global issues
- assess the interests and understand the viewpoints of different influential organizations involved in regional or global governance
The course is given every second year; given 2019-20.
Topically the course is all about transnational issues and phenomena. The course is taught by international faculty; its theories draw from the field of international relations, as applied to business studies; and its assignments are all about transnational issues and phenomena too.
Lectures: 28 hours
Debate sessions: 12 hours
Group work not included in class hours: 75 hours
Individual work not included in class hours: 95 hours
Exam: 4 hours
Total: 214 hours
214 hours divided into
Scheduled (contact) hours: 40 hours
Non-scheduled work: 174 hours
Written exam: 40%
Valuable individual activity during lectures: 12%
Debater role 1 (team grade): 12%
Debater role 2 (team grade): 12%
Moderator role (team grade): 12%
Grade given by teammates for individual contribution to preparation: 6%
Individual performances during debates: 6%
- Baylis, J., Smith, S. & Owens, P. (2011). The Globalization of World Politics : An introduction to international relations. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (or subsequent edition)
- Additional literature to be specified by the instructor.
Quota for the Open University: 3
Quota for JOO-students: 3