World Economy AND Global Order

This course aims to contribute to a better understanding of global liberal internationalism and its impact on processes of economic and political development worldwide. From the emergence of the British liberal order till nowadays, the liberal world order has been attacked by critics from across the ideological spectrum. The criticism of the principles of the liberal world order has intensified since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008 and received new dimensions with the rise of so-called ‘emerging powers’ in international politics. At the same time, however, the edifice of liberal internationalism appears to have endured. While challenges are intensifying, no fundamental intellectual or political alternative has managed to obtain equal status to liberal internationalism.
This course explores the theoretical debates and empirical evidence regarding the global liberal internationalism and its economic, political and social evolution in relation to the formation of a global liberal order. The course addresses mainly critical approach to the Liberal Internationalism, even though a mainstream theoretical base is also given. The course also reviews and explores key processes within the global Liberal internationalism. This includes processes relating to labour, social movements, finance, trade, public finance, and other features related to the formation of the global liberalism. Moreover, attention is given to the ongoing changing role of the national state and its integration in a international system stated under liberalism.
During the course, we will study the origins of the political and economic liberal order, its evolution since the nineteenth century and core elements of contemporary liberal internationalism. We look at the emergence of international legal norms and international institutions that reflect key assumptions of liberal internationalism and how the liberal hegemonic state is interested in actively promoted liberal reforms aboard. We will discuss and assess contemporary challenges to the liberal world order, with a focus on the increasing popularity of nationalist and anti-globalization rhetoric and the rise of ‘emerging powers’ on the global stage and how it can challenge the liberal global economic order. We will also make linkages between liberal internationalism and processes of neo-liberalism as well as the crisis of democratic capitalism as a form of leading power system especially in western societies.

Conoscenza generale della storia moderna

1. Conte G., A History of Capitalist Transformation: A Critique of Liberal-Capitalist Reforms, Routledge, London - New York 2024.
2. Arrighi G., The Long Twentieth Century: Money, Power and the Origins of Our Times, Verso, New York 1994

Ulteriore libro per gli studenti non frequentanti

1. Klein M. C., Pettis M., Trade Wars Are Class Wars: How Rising Inequality Distorts the Global Economy and Threatens International Peace, Yale University Press, New Haven, 2021

Conte G., A History of Capitalist Transformation: A Critique of Liberal-Capitalist Reforms, Routledge, London - New York 2024.
Arrighi G., The Long Twentieth Century: Money, Power and the Origins of Our Times, Verso, New York 1994
Klein M. C., Pettis M., Trade Wars Are Class Wars: How Rising Inequality Distorts the Global Economy and Threatens International Peace, Yale University Press, New Haven, 2021

in-class / face-to-face lessons

frequentanti e non frequentanti 

oral or written examination.

This course aims to contribute to a better understanding of global liberal internationalism and its impact on processes of economic and political development worldwide. From the emergence of the British liberal order till nowadays, the liberal world order has been attacked by critics from across the ideological spectrum. The criticism of the principles of the liberal world order has intensified since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008 and received new dimensions with the rise of so-called ‘emerging powers’ in international politics. At the same time, however, the edifice of liberal internationalism appears to have endured. While challenges are intensifying, no fundamental intellectual or political alternative has managed to obtain equal status to liberal internationalism.
This course explores the theoretical debates and empirical evidence regarding the global liberal internationalism and its economic, political and social evolution in relation to the formation of a global liberal order. The course addresses mainly critical approach to the Liberal Internationalism, even though a mainstream theoretical base is also given. The course also reviews and explores key processes within the global Liberal internationalism. This includes processes relating to labour, social movements, finance, trade, public finance, and other features related to the formation of the global liberalism. Moreover, attention is given to the ongoing changing role of the national state and its integration in a international system stated under liberalism.
During the course, we will study the origins of the political and economic liberal order, its evolution since the nineteenth century and core elements of contemporary liberal internationalism. We look at the emergence of international legal norms and international institutions that reflect key assumptions of liberal internationalism and how the liberal hegemonic state is interested in actively promoted liberal reforms aboard. We will discuss and assess contemporary challenges to the liberal world order, with a focus on the increasing popularity of nationalist and anti-globalization rhetoric and the rise of ‘emerging powers’ on the global stage and how it can challenge the liberal global economic order. We will also make linkages between liberal internationalism and processes of neo-liberalism as well as the crisis of democratic capitalism as a form of leading power system especially in western societies.

Conoscenza generale della storia moderna

1. Conte G., A History of Capitalist Transformation: A Critique of Liberal-Capitalist Reforms, Routledge, London - New York 2024.
2. Arrighi G., The Long Twentieth Century: Money, Power and the Origins of Our Times, Verso, New York 1994

Ulteriore libro per gli studenti non frequentanti

1. Klein M. C., Pettis M., Trade Wars Are Class Wars: How Rising Inequality Distorts the Global Economy and Threatens International Peace, Yale University Press, New Haven, 2021

Conte G., A History of Capitalist Transformation: A Critique of Liberal-Capitalist Reforms, Routledge, London - New York 2024.
Arrighi G., The Long Twentieth Century: Money, Power and the Origins of Our Times, Verso, New York 1994
Klein M. C., Pettis M., Trade Wars Are Class Wars: How Rising Inequality Distorts the Global Economy and Threatens International Peace, Yale University Press, New Haven, 2021

in-class / face-to-face lessons

frequentanti e non frequentanti 

oral or written examination.