Semester |
F2021
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Subject |
Global Studies * / International Development Studies * / International Public Administration and Politics * / Politics and Administration * / Public Administration *
|
Activitytype |
master course
|
Teaching language |
English
|
Registration |
You register for activities through stads selvbetjening during the announced registration period, which you can see on the Study administration homepage. When registering for courses, please be aware of the potential conflicts and overlaps between course and exam time and dates. The planning of course activities at Roskilde University is based on the recommended study programmes, which should not overlap. However, if you choose optional courses and/or study plans that goes beyond the recommended study programmes, an overlap of lectures or exam dates may occur depending on which courses you choose. In case of too few registrations, the course will be cancelled. |
Detailed description of content |
The contours of industrial competitiveness are now increasingly defined by the outlines of international production networks and less so by the boundaries of nations. Production of goods and services is fragmented and spatially dispersed and is governed by lead firms that coordinate the activities of a myriad of suppliers and sub-suppliers worldwide. From a broader perspective, however, GVC governance is also shaped by actors that do not directly produce, transform, handle or trade products and services – such as civil society organizations, trade unions, consumer groups, networks of experts and policymakers, industry groups and multistakeholder initiatives. GVCs have opened up new opportunities for developing countries to participate in the global economy, but have also heightened the related risks and uncertainty of doing so. GVC participation per se does not lead to inclusive development outcomes unless increasing shares of value added are created and captured domestically and are fairly distributed among different social groups. Covid-19 revealed the extent to which countries around the world depend on global value chains for employment, production and consumption, sparking debates over the positive and negative aspects of the dependence and whether global production should be reconfigured. The Global Value Chains course examines these pressing issues of the contemporary global economy, from the perspective of developed, emerging and less developed countries. In Assignment 1, students are asked to map and measure the position of a specific country in a specific GVC of their own choice, using the tools taught in class 3. It should be no more than 4 pages (7200 characters = 4 x 1800 characters per page). More details are in the course syllabus on Moodle. In Assignment 2, students are asked to conduct the following analysis: (1) identify the dominant governance structure in their chosen GVC and discuss how it relates to lead firm strategies and supplier capabilities, and then elaborate in their chosen country specific context; (2) Identify and discuss the developmental outcomes in their chosen country from participation in this GVC, in terms of firm level economic and social upgrading as well as broader implications for the domestic economy; and (3) Discuss the causal drivers between lead firm strategies, governance structure and developmental outcomes, in which it is possible to bring in other variables such as host government policies, NGO activities, and worker actions. Assignment 2 should be no more than 12 pages (21600 characters), including list of references. There is no need for a title page, abstract or table of contents. |
Expected work effort (ECTS-declaration) |
10 ECTS x 27 hours = 270 hours Estimated: 13 lectures x 2 =26 hours; Group work and other activities = 40; Preparation for class 13 x 6 = 78; Preparation for the Exam and Exam = 126 |
Course material and Reading list |
Milberg, W. and D. Winkler. 2013. Outsourcing Economics: Global Value Chains in Capitalist Development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Gary Gereffi, 2018. Global Value Chains and Development: Redefining the contours of 21st century capitalism. Cambridge University Press. (Available online at RUC library.) Hugh Whittaker, Timothy Sturgeon, Toshie Okita and Tianbiao Zhu, 2020. Compressed Development: Time and Timing in Economic and Social Development. Oxford University Press. (Available online at RUC library.) These books will be complimented with journal articles that cover specific topics in more depth and more recent developments. |
Evaluation- and feedback forms |
There will be a mid-term evaluation of the course. There will be feedback on group presentations and other class activities. There will be office hours for questions, as well as written feedback on assignments after exams. Grades will be provided through eksamen.ruc.dk |
Administration of exams |
ISE Studieadministration (ise-studieadministration@ruc.dk)
|
Responsible for the activity |
Lindsay Whitfield (lindsayw@ruc.dk)
|
ECTS |
10
|
Learning outcomes and assessment criteria |
|
Overall content |
The objective of the advanced study course is to provide the students with advanced knowledge and understanding within a specific research area covered by one of the three pillars in Global Studies: Global Politics, Global Sociology and Global Political Economy. At least two advanced study courses will be offered per semester. The courses offered will change every semester within the following subjects: Global Politics:
Global Sociology:
Global Political Economy:
|
Teaching and working methods |
The courses are based on lectures, but will also include other teaching and working methods such as group work, exercises, student presentations, peer feedback and field trips or guest lectures as well as other practical activities. |
Type of activity |
Elective course |
Form of examination |
Individual written portfolio.
The portfolio consists of 2 written products, that wholly or partially are developed during the course. For example, products can be exercise responses, speech papers for presentations, written feedback, reflection, written assignments. The preparation of the products may be subject to time limits. The character limit: maximum 28,800 characters, including spaces. The character limits include the cover, table of contents, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any appendices. The portfolio's specific products and the (if relevant) recommended size (character limit) for the individual products are made public on study.ruc.dk before the course begins. The entire portfolio must be handed in at the same time. The submission deadline will be public on study.ruc.dk before the course begins. The assessment is individual and based on the entire portfolio. Assessment: 7-point grading scale. |
Form of Re-examination |
Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam
|
Exam code(s) | |
Last changed | 22/01/2021 |