Module manager: Dr Stuart Hodkinson
Email: s.n.hodkinson@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is approved as a discovery module
The module establishes a solid foundation in contemporary economic geography, critically examining the spatial nature of economic power through three main thematic blocks: 1) the structures and spaces of global economic power focusing on capitalism, neoliberal globalisation, corporate power, and financialisation; 2) the exploitative social and environmental relations of branded goods’ global supply chains; and 3) the winners and losers from different urban economic development models operating and circulating in the global policy arena.
By the end of this module, students should have acquired:
i) a foundational knowledge of the principal themes, ideas, terminologies, theories, problems, approaches and debates in critical economic geography;
ii) an understanding of how economic power operates spatially at multiple scales;
iii) conceptual and methodological skills in conducting ‘follow the thing’ and ‘follow the model’ research through seminar training and the case study assessment;
iv) key skills in critical reading, research and writing, producing case studies and responding professionally to real-world research needs.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. a foundational knowledge of the principal themes, ideas, terminologies, theories, problems, approaches and debates in critical economic geography;
2. a foundational knowledge of the contested geographies of capitalist globalisation with a focus on the shifting scales and nature of economic activity, power asymmetries, innovation, exploitation and commodification;
3. a foundational knowledge of the global rise of neoliberalism, financialisation, and corporate power, the implications for national regulatory frameworks, and the particular role played by geography in these processes;
4. the ability to critically discuss the contemporary importance of brands, the global organisation of production through supply chains and production networks, and the contradictory social and environmental consequences;
5. the ability to critically discuss the changing nature of urban and regional economies and policy in the context of globalisation, and the contradictory social and environmental consequences.
Skills learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1. Critical thinking to weigh up different arguments and perspectives, and use supporting evidence to form opinions, arguments, theories and ideas.
2. Effective presentation skills through engaging oral or visual presentations
3. Academic language and writing skills that communicate in a concise, focused and structured manner that is supported by relevant evidence.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lecture | 18 | 1 | 18 |
| Seminar | 8 | 1 | 8 |
| Private study hours | 173 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 27 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students receive formative feedback as follows:
1. From the in-class reveal of the MCQ correct answers where we discuss and help to improve their understandings of the concepts being assessed to prepare them for the coursework assignment
2. From teaching staff at the 8 seminars for which they prepare, upload to padlet and present non-assessed coursework.
3. From teaching in the week 11 online assessment workshop.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Coursework | 50 |
| Online Assessment | OTLA | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Resit for coursework: the option of doing a different case study of the student’s choice to the failed report. Resit for OTLA: the option of doing a different set of MCQs.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 4/29/2024
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team