Global Political Economy: Contemporary Theories

Global political economy is a broad and varied field of study and draws insight from a great number of fields and approaches. One of the serious problems confronting academics and students is the sheer mass of theories and debates in the field. This textbook provides up-to-date summaries of the debates and approaches that are currently at the forefront of both European and American GPE. This new revised and expanded second edition contains updated versions of most of the original chapters. In addition there is a new section entitled 'emerging issues' and six new chapters. The second edition is structured around three themes. Part one focuses on the seven central concepts of GPE: state, firm, capital, power, labour, finance and globalisation, each of which is increasingly subjected to a rigorous and critical evaluation. Part Two covers a wide range of theories and debates currently at the forefront of global political economy: game theory, behavioural economics, neo, sociological and evolutionary institutionalism, neo-Marxism, development and post-development, libidinal economies and economic constructivism. Part three, which is new to this edition, is entitled 'emerging issues in contemporary IPE: war, state and IPE, race, gender and culture, environmental politics and the rise of China. This is essential reading for all serious scholars and advanced students of international political economy.