Module SGIA2401: Capitalism: History and Theory

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA2401: Capitalism: History and Theory

Prerequisites

• At least one level 1 SGIA module

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• This module aims to provide students with broad and detailed knowledge of capitalism from a political economy perspective;
• The module will explore academic debates surrounding the ideas, concepts and historical context of the emergence and development of capitalism;
• This module will examine capitalism’s contemporary issues and challenges through a historical and theoretical perspective.

Content

• This module will introduce students to the key debates within the field of political economy on the emergence and development of capitalism utilising a thematic approach linked to phases of capitalist development from the 16th Century to the present day;
• The module will also explore the key theoretical debates within political economy on the origins and nature of capitalism. Students will explore these theories in seminar discussions.

Learning Outcomes

• Through the module students will gain an understanding of:
• The historical development of capitalism, from its origins to the present;
• How capitalist development has shaped and been shaped by key events in world history;
• The core political economy theories of capitalism’s emergence and functioning, exploring a range of influential thinkers in political economy;
• The close interconnection between transformations in capitalism and changing political economy ideas.

• Students will also develop some subject specific skills, such as:
• Critically explore the historical specificity of capitalism through an examination of its emergence and evolution;
• Critically assess key texts of political economy theory and identify competing perspectives on the nature of capitalism.

• Students will also develop some important key skills, suitable for underpinning study at this and subsequent levels, such as:
• Develop an independent and critical approach to learning, including a capacity to reflect on one’s own performance and improve through feedback;
• Advanced ability to search for and utilise relevant sources in relation to a range of problems or questions while working to deadlines.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching and learning will be delivered through a combination of 1-hour lectures and 1-hour seminars.
• The lectures will provide formal instruction and will give students a detailed overview of the core political economy debates on capitalism’s history and development.
• The seminars will allow students to discuss the work of key political economy theorists and apply these theories to the historical debates that they learned about in the lecture and from the assigned readings, providing students with a chance to develop their verbal communication skills and gain an advanced understanding of the relevant subjects.
• Formative assignment by 1,000-word essay, allowing students to develop their skills in analysing the strength and weaknesses of a particular argument, and to situate it in relation to other literature on the topic.
• Summative assessment by 1,000-word reflective document, based on a portfolio of reflections gathered throughout the year, will allow students to develop an independent, reflective, and critical approach to learning. The reflective document assesses how students make progress in their study of the global political economy. The aim is to produce a document capturing how their thinking on global political economy issues has evolved along the way.
• Summative assessment by 2,000-word essay will allow students to develop their skills in critical analysis and essay writing, as they will explore in depth key questions related to the history and theory of capitalism.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative assessment will comprise a 1,000 word essay.

■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.