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2026/2027  KAN-CPOLO1802U  Applied International Political Economy

English Title
Applied International Political Economy

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for Global Business and Politics
Programme MSc in International Business and Politics
Course coordinator
  • Stefano Ponte - Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC)
Main academic disciplines
  • International political economy
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 29-01-2026

Relevant links
Learning objectives
  • Explain the key concepts and propositions of the theoretical and analytical approaches studied;
  • Critically analyze, compare and discuss various theories, concepts and analytical approaches with a clear understanding of differences and relations between them;
  • Explain the main features of the empirical examples studied in the course;
  • Relate theories, concepts and analytical approaches to empirical examples and draw practical implications
  • Draw upon the theories, concepts and analytical approaches covered in the course to pose, discuss and answer research questions in international political economy, in accordance with the expected academic standards of the IBP programme
Course prerequisites
This is not an introductory course to International Political Economy, thus successful participation requires a foundation in this discipline. Students without a foundation in IPE similar to what is provided by the IBP bachelor program are strongly recommended to read, before the course starts, at the very minimum an IPE textbook. We recommend reading the following textbook:
O’Brien, Robert and Williams, Marc (2025) Global Political Economy. Evolution and Dynamics. 7th Edition, Bloomsbury
Examination
Applied International Political Economy:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Written sit-in exam on CBS' computers
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration 4 hours
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Autumn
Aids Closed book: no aids
However, at all written sit-in exams the student has access to the basic IT application package (Microsoft Office365 (minus Excel), document camera and paper, 7-zip file manager, Adobe Reader DC, PDF24, Texlive, VLC player, Windows Media Player – ATTENTION no sound allowed), and the student is allowed to bring simple writing and drawing utensils (non-digital). PLEASE NOTE: Students are not allowed to communicate with others during the exam.
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
The number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination may warrant that it most appropriately be held as an oral examination. The programme office will inform the students if the make-up examination/re-take examination instead is held as an oral examination including a second examiner or external examiner.
This applies to all students (failed, ill, or otherwise)
Description of the exam procedure

The exam requires students to write an essay in response to one of the 2–3 questions provided. There is no minimum or maximum word count for the essay. More detailed information about what is expected will be given at the start of the course. For the exam, students may bring printed materials, including books, articles, and notes.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

This course examines the relations between business, political institutions and non-governmental organizations – and how they shape the governance of international business. It is an advanced and specialized course that focuses on the research frontiers in selected topics within International Political Economy, with an emphasis on transnational dimensions and interactions. The course covers a selection of key debates and their research-based empirical applications – in view of providing the tools for a nuanced understanding of real-world challenges and their possible solutions. 

The course focuses on two main themes:

  • The transnational governance of international business, with particular attention to the functioning of global value chains and global wealth chains;
  • How international regimes and organizations seek to govern and impact international business, with particular focus on environmental issues, climate change and finance.

The purpose of the course is to provide an in-depth understanding of theoretical and empirical debates and research results in these topics, and a solid foundation for engaging in future independent research projects in the field of International Political Economy.

 

In relation to the Nordic Nine

The Applied International Political Economy course incorporates most of the Nordic Nine. By examining how firms operate in the global economy through multiple theoretical approaches and concrete empirial cases, the course addresses NN1, NN2, NN6 and NN8. Through examining the drivers of the global green transition, including government regulations, innovation and the predominant role of Asian countries, the course addresses NN3, NN4, and NN7. Through exploring the multiple dimensions of global wealth chains, finance, and taxation (or the lack of it) as well as the geopolitics and security tensions around global competition at the technological frontier, students engage with complex issues that contain ambiguity and ethical dilemmas (NN2, NN5).
Research-based teaching
CBS’ programmes and teaching are research-based. The following types of research-based knowledge and research-like activities are included in this course:
Research-based knowledge
  • Classic and basic theory
  • New theory
  • Teacher’s own research
Research-like activities
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
Description of the teaching methods
Each teaching session is held in person and consists of a lecture covering the main theoretical, analytical and conceptual aspects of a specific topic, together with discussion and reflection activities in small groups and in plenary format. When relevant, there will be discussions of current events and how they can be interpreted through the theoretical and analytical lenses adopted in the course. Some sessions will open with a quiz designed for peer-to-peer evaluation of students’ understanding of the key material covered until then in the course.

The course also includes dedicated exercise sessions focused on selected thematic areas. For these sessions, students are randomly assigned to parallel groups. These sessions may include games, role-play, mock consultancy or policy-making, 'quiet reading' followed by debate, and/or book reading clubs.
Feedback during the teaching period
We aim to provide continuous feedback and foster an ongoing dialogue with students. This will occur through:
- Individual feedback, available on demand during office hours;
- Collective feedback in plenary sessions, where pre-submitted questions will be discussed and oral feedback provided; and
- Collective feedback in small groups during exercise sessions, which often include student presentations—accompanied by oral feedback from both peers and faculty—and quizzes followed by feedback on the results. These components help students gauge their progress toward achieving the course’s learning objectives.
Student workload
Preparation time (readings, group work etc.) 105 hours
Lectures / discussion sessions/ class exercises / quizzes 30 hours
Exam (incl. preparation for the exam and actual exam period) 75 hours
Expected literature

There is no textbook for the course. The readings consist of journal articles, working papers, books and book chapters, which are made available in the 'Course Readings' space on Canvas. For the current event discussions embedded in some of the sessions, students are encouraged to read the weekly magazine 'The Economist', preferably in paper format. 
Last updated on 29-01-2026