Module Identifier IPM6220  
Module Title THE WELSH POLITICAL ECONOMY  
Academic Year 2001/2002  
Co-ordinator Dr Dafydd Trystan-Davies  
Semester Semester 1  
Course delivery Seminar   1 x 2 hour seminar per week  
Assessment Essay   2,000 words   50%  
  Exam   3 Hours   50%  

Brief description


A crucial element in understanding Welsh politics and society is the development of the Welsh economy. This module will thus seek to develop students' in-depth understanding of the contemporary situation of the Welsh economy (in theory and practice), and its development over the past 120 years.


The course will begin by analysing the late 19th/early 20th century position of the Welsh political economy, as one of the most dynamic areas in the world. It will trace patterns of centrality and periphery in broader politico-economic trends throught he depression of the 20s and 30s. It will assess the impact of the regional planning approach to political economy in the 50s and early 60s, and contrast the position of the Welsh political economy during this period with the latter part of the 20th century and the rise of the Welsh Development Agency and the globalisation agenda.


It will place these material trends in a broad theoretical perspective which seeks to uncover the relationships between material practice and ideational practice. Thus various approaches to the construction or otherwise of the Welsh political economy will be considered.

Objectives


On the completion of the module, students should be able to:


- critically assess and evaluate the main theoretical approaches to understanding the Welsh political economy
- assess the development of politico-economic relations within Wales during the past 120 years
- place developments in Wales in the wider context of developments in the international political economy
- understand the linkages between the material developments in the Welsh political economy and how people understood/understand this economy.