Module manager: Dr Geoff Goodwin
Email: G.B.Goodwin@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
In this module, students are introduced to current debates in global political economy (GPE) and develop the skills and knowledge to conduct critical political economy analysis. The module combines a focus on global political economy structures and processes with close attention to everyday life. The module draws on insights from various academic disciplines to provide students with an interdisciplinary framework to conduct critical GPE analysis. Traditional and emerging approaches to GPE are covered, including perspectives from the Global South. Students ground GPE concepts and theories in empirical case studies and their own lived experience as students and workers. Themes covered in the module include labour, migration, trade, firms, housing, technology, finance, environment and debt. No economics or statistical training is required to take this module.
Students are introduced to current GPE debates and explore GPE issues in diverse settings across the Global North and Global South. Particular attention is given to everyday GPE, and the lived experiences of the students enrolled on the module. Students are introduced to core GPE concepts and theories that are explored in greater depth on the MA in Global Political Economy. The assessments are designed to enable the students to connect their everyday lives to GPE issues and critical engage with a wide range of GPE materials. Seminar activities allow the students to work in groups, explore case studies, and apply concepts and theories. The module provides students with skills and knowledge for a wide range of public and private sector jobs, especially policy and analytical posts.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Critically analyse global political economy issues using appropriate concepts, theories, and empirical evidence.
2. Integrate perspectives from multiple disciplines to evaluate and interpret global political economy problems.
3. Critically evaluate contemporary debates and competing theoretical approaches in global political economy.
4. Apply global political economy concepts and theories to conduct empirical analysis across local, national, and global contexts.
5. Analyse how global political economy structures, institutions, and processes influence everyday life and lived experiences.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Locate, evaluate, and synthesise scholarly, policy and media sources on global political economy using digital research tools.
2. Communicate complex concepts clearly and persuasively in academic writing.
3. Reflect on personal learning by connecting module content to lived experience.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Practical | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Independent online learning hours | 178 | ||
| Private study hours | 0 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for the summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | - | 70 |
| Coursework | - | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team