Example international political economy dissertation topic 2:

The ‘market-authority’ nexus: A contemporary case study and discussion.

Focusing on the contemporary issue of (perceived) tax evasion by major multi-national corporations, this dissertation looks at the ‘market-authority’ nexus issue as highlighted and discussed by Susan Strange. In agreeing with her view that a dangerous gap has opened up between the power of the state (in terms of political authority) and the market (in terms of its global reach and supranationalism), this dissertation questions what can be done (if anything) at an individual nation-state level to bring multi-national organisations ‘to heel’ . Analysing a developing issue within the field of political economics, this dissertation combines the theories of IPE with on-going political discourse and offers the writer an ability to use not only secondary but also primary source material.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Langley, P. (2002). World financial orders: An historical international political economy. London: Routledge.
• May, C. and Tooze, R. (eds) (2002). Authority and markets: Susan Strange’s writings on international political economy. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Mikler, J. (2011). ‘The illusion of the ‘power of markets”. Journal of Australian Political Economy, vol. 68, pp. 41-61.