Governance and Global Capitalism

Catalog description

What is governance, and what does it mean for a country to govern effectively? This course examines governance in an era of global capitalism. Over the past fifty years, most countries around the world have embraced some degree of political and economic liberalization. Although there have been enormous gains, many nations nonetheless struggle to achieve democratization and growth. The relationship of democracy and capitalism, which has long been considered mutually beneficial, now seems unsettled. In recent years, citizens around the world have taken part in hundreds of mass protests demanding better governance and economic security. Governance underpins the relationship of democracy and capitalism, and this course is designed for students who already have background coursework on political science, democracy, and/or economics. This 10-week seminar will give students a grasp of 1) concepts and theories of governance, 2) governance issues specific to global capitalism, and 3) current and future challenges to governance. The class is open to MIP students and undergraduate juniors/seniors.