Political Economy and Social Change

Description

The world has entered a phase of political and economic upheaval. This program will explore the dynamics of this process, viewing it at local, national and international levels and drawing on tools from fields like economics, political theory and history. Students will get a grounding in modern economics (micro and macro) from a critical perspective, theories of the relationship between economics and politics (political economy), and historical examples of economic disruption and the organization of social movements. The program will also consider how political-economic crises are experienced by those who live through them through literature and film. In addition, in order to better understand current developments and alternative explanations for them, students will acquire basic statistical skills and use them as elements of critical thinking.

Readings will include books and articles on U.S. and international political-economic structures, theories of political economy, and case studies that highlight the challenges of organizing for social change; there will also be an economics textbook. Student work will include short essays, workshops and economics/statistics assignments, and a major project that may provide research support for a community organization. Student governance will play a central role in guiding the program and will provide an opportunity for bringing together democratic theory and practice.