International Political Economy

The world has become smaller. Markets operate in Spartan competition and states and societies face the endeavour to cope with on-going globalization. IPE addresses these marvels.

International Political Economy is a track within the Master's degree in International Relations.

Since the 1970s, IPE has developed as an independent sub-discipline in International Relations (IR). It focuses on the interaction between states, markets and societies. Its primary aim is to increase our understanding of the dynamics of these three building blocks. In doing so, IPE is interdisciplinary by its self-same nature.

Why is it fascinating coming to grips with a globalizing world economy? While states cannot be conceived of as homogenous actors that perfectly take care of the preferences of all of their citizens, one can nevertheless reveal degrees of freedom for negotiation about regional and international cooperation in the fields of trade, production, finance and knowledge. It is a scholarly exertion to reveal the complicated nexus of states, markets and societies.