Global Political Economy and Development (GPED)

PROGRAMME PROFILE The two-year Master’s programme in "Global Political Economy and Development" is a research-oriented graduate programme that leads to the degree of Master of Arts in Global Political Economy and Development. It introduces students to the institutions, actors, and processes characterising globalised capitalism, North-South relations, and development cooperation. It focuses on the global level, but it also looks at regional and national settings from a comparative perspective. Our curriculum stands out because it approaches political economy from a North-South perspective that is informed by development theory and practice and postcolonial perspectives. The programme is interdisciplinary and is taught by scholars with a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, among them political science, sociology, and economics. The curriculum is based on a pluralist understanding of political economy and covers both mainstream and critical perspectives. It stresses the importance of an integrated research approach, which links empirical analysis with methodological and theoretical considerations. Moreover, there is a practical component to GPED: students are expected to complete a two-month internship at NGOs, international organisations, research centres, etc. INTERNATIONAL SCOPE The student body is truly international: about 75 percent of the students are from other countries than Germany. Guest lecturers from partner universities around the world regularly offer classes. Field research in preparation for the MA thesis can be supported by a limited number of research grants. For more information, please see the website of the Global Partnership Network (GPN) . RELEVANCE Globalisation has challenged conventional thinking still heavily attached to the nation-state and has called into question the traditional separation between the economy and the political sphere. Reflecting on this, the Global Political Economy and Development Master’s programme offers students a comprehensive perspective on the world economy as well as the political dynamics, institutions, and actors that shape it and the imaginaries of development and progress that permeate it. It investigates the forces of globalisation and its contestations and critically analyses contemporary forms of political and economic governance on the global level as well as actors and policies in international development. A COMPETITIVE EDGE ON THE JOB MARKET In the wake of globalisation, a critical understanding of the global political and economic dynamics, time spent abroad, and good language skills give graduates a competitive edge in the job market. Correspondingly, the Master’s programme aims at facilitating learning on how to interpret and analyse transnational economic and political processes and how to cooperate with peers from all over the world. In so doing, it prepares graduates for careers in areas concerned with globalisation and development, for example, in international organisations, NGOs, consultancies, journalism, and academia. Thanks to its focus on both theory and empirical research, it provides rigorous training for students who are interested in pursuing a PhD after graduation.