Institute of Political Economy


Loeb Building A818
Telephone: 520-7414
Fax: 520-2154

The Institute

Director of the Institute:
Wallace Clement

The Institute of Political Economy, established in 1989, developed out of the Graduate Summer School of Political Economy, which was formed in 1983. The summer school was built on the strong tradition of interdisciplinary studies at Carleton, and on the interests of numerous faculty at Carleton involved in political economy. Distinguished international scholars have been attracted to teach in the summer school. Through the Institute, these distinguished visitors will now be in residence during the normal academic year, in addition to the summer program.

The Institute offers a program of study and research leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Political Economy, the only program of its kind in Canada. Its interdisciplinary program is designed to offer students both an exposure to the core concepts of political economy and an opportunity to develop individual areas of research concentration.

The program focuses on investigating the relationship between the economy and politics as they affect the social and cultural life of societies, and secondly, focuses on the historical processes whereby social change is located in the interaction of the economic, political, cultural, and ideological moments of social life.

Carleton University has developed a strong tradition in political economy. Faculty members from most of the social sciences and history participate regularly in the Institute. The program’s curriculum includes courses with a political economy orientation that are offered by other departments, schools, and institutes. The Master of Arts in Political Economy is an opportunity for students to study political economy from the perspective of different disciplines within a single program.

Qualifying-Year Program

Applicants who have a general (pass) bachelor’s degree in one of the disciplines represented in the program may be admitted to a qualifying-year program designed to raise their status to that of honours graduates. Students are expected to achieve at least high honours in qualifying-year courses in order to be considered for admission to the master’s program. To be eligible for admission to a qualifying year, normally a student must previously have successfully completed at least four courses in one of the social sciences.

Refer to the General Regulations section of the Calender for details of the regulations governing qualifying year.

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

The normal requirement for admission to the master’s program is an honours B.A., with at least high honours standing, in one of the disciplines represented in the Institute. Prospective applicants without such qualifications may be considered for admission if they have both a strong academic record and relevant work experience. Such students normally are asked to complete a qualifying year of study with at least high honours standing before proceeding to the master’s program.

Program Requirements

The Master of Arts in Political Economy is a 5.0 credit program, one of which may be at the 400 (honours undergraduate) level. Each candidate, in consultation with the Institute, must select and follow one of two optional patterns: Whichever pattern is selected, all students in the Institute are required to take Political Economy 44.500: Theories of Political Economy and 44.501: The Methodology of Political Economy, two 0.5 credit seminars offered by the Institute.

As well, students must select at least 0.5 credits from the following: Sociology 53.525:Canadian Society, or Political Science 47.509: Canadian Political Economy, or International Affairs 46.588: International Political Economy, or Political Science 47.588: International Political Economy, or approved equivalents of these courses. Registration in these courses is contingent upon the completion of all prerequisites or, in exceptional cases, obtaining the permission of the relevant department or school. The base course pattern annually available to students would normally be:

Fall Term

Winter Term

Summer Term

Academic Standing

All master’s candidates must maintain at least B standing (grade point average of 8.0). A candidate may, with the recommendation of the Institute and the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, be allowed a grade of C+ in 1.0 credit.

Graduate Courses*

The institute’s courses will not normally be open to undergraduate students.

  • Political Economy 44.500F1,W1,S1 Theories of Political Economy A survey of the evolution of the core concepts and ideas proposed by both the founders and modern practitioners of the various approaches to political economy. Particular attention will be paid to contemporary theorists as well as classical theorists such as Smith, Ricardo, Marx, Mill, Schumpeter, Keynes, Veblen, and Innis.

  • Political Economy 44.501F1,W1,S1
    The Methodology of Political Economy
    An examination of the methods, procedures, and rules for developing theory and guiding inquiry in political economy research, including topics such as logic of inquiry, conceptualization, research design, dialectics, level of analysis, comparison, evidence and statistics.

  • Political Economy 44.551F1,W1,S1
    Selected Problems in Political Economy I
    (Also offered as Sociology 53.554 and Political Science 47.551)

  • Political Economy 44.552F1,W1,S1
    Selected Problems in Political Economy II
    (Also offered as Sociology 53.555 and Political Science 47.552)

  • Political Economy 44.590F1,W1,S1
    Tutorial in Political Economy
    A course of directed readings on selected aspects of political economy, involving preparation of papers as the basis for discussion with the tutor. Offered when no regular course offering meets a candidate’s specific needs.
    Prerequisite: Permission of the Director.

  • Political Economy 44.598F2,W2,S2
    Research Essay
    Directly linked to the student’s course work, the research essay must be interdisciplinary in approach.

  • Political Economy 44.599F4,W4,S4
    M.A. Thesis
    The thesis is an alternative to the research essay. It must also be interdisciplinary in approach, and requires greater substance and originality than the Research Essay. Normally, a student’s thesis committee will be composed of members from more than one discipline.

    Selection of Courses

    In addition to the graduate courses offered by, or associated with, the Institute, the courses listed below are of relevance to students of political economy and would, with the prior approval of the Institute, be used to design a coherent and internally complementary set of courses to fulfil degree requirements. The list is not exclusive and is subject to change. Moreover, students may select 1.0 credit (or the equivalent) in political economy that is offered at the 400 level.

    Note: Students should be aware that the number of spaces in graduate courses offered by other departments may be limited, and that registration may be conditional upon obtaining the prior approval of the department concerned. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that permission is obtained from the appropriate department prior to registering in any of the following courses.

    The Institute expects to attract high quality graduate students who will be likely to continue to a second post-graduate degree. Given that a Ph.D. program in political economy does not exist, master’s students will be directed to consult with the department where they might wish to pursue doctoral studies so that they may select courses that will prepare them for this next stage.

    Business

    42.530 Managing the Multinational Enterprise

    42.531 Seminar in International Business Management

    Canadian Studies

    12.510 Northern and Native Issues

    12.520 Women’s Studies

    12.530 Canadian Culture and Cultural Policy

    Economics

    43.511 Canadian Economy I

    43.521 History of Economic Thought I

    43.533 Regulation and Public Enterprise

    43.538 Law and Economics

    43.541 Public Economics: Expenditure

    43.542 Public Economics: Taxation

    43.543 Public Choice

    43.544 Fiscal Federalism

    43.550 Theory of Economic Development

    43.554 Economic Development: Internal Aspects

    43.555 Economic Development: International Aspects

    43.586 Comparative Economic Systems I

    43.587 Comparative Economic Systems II

    Geography

    45.427 Urban Development and Analysis

    45.520 Issues in Development in Africa

    45.540 Territory and Territoriality

    45.541 Society and Space

    45.544 Gender and Environments

    History

    24.421 Science and Technology in the Canadian Experience

    24.422 The Maritimes in Transition, 1840s to 1890s


    24.425 Selected Problems in the Political Economy of Canadian Labour

    24.431 Canada from Confederation to the Great War

    24.433 Selected Problems in Canadian Business 1850-1980

    24.437 Canada from War to War

    24.439 Modern Canada since 1939

    24.458 Selected Problems in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century British Social History

    24.459 Selected Problems in the History of Women and the Family: from the Industrial Revolution

    24.471 Selected Problems in International Economic History

    24.525 Society and Culture in Canada, 1850-1939

    24.530 Canadian Immigration and Ethnic History

    24.532 Ontario in the Nineteenth Century

    24.534 Problems of Growth and War in Canada, 1896-1921

    24.536 Science and Technology in the Canadian Experience

    24.537 The Maritimes in Transition, 1870s to 1920s

    24.558 Culture and Society in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Britain

    24.559 Women in Nineteenth- and Twentieth- Century North America and Britain

    International Affairs



    46.561 Historical Dimensions of Development and Underdevelopment

    46.564 Issues in Development in Latin America

    46.567 Issues in Development in Southeast Asia

    46.580 Asia Pacific Economic and Political Relationships

    46.582 The Political Economy of East-West Relations

    Law

    51.401 Law, Family and Gender

    51.402 Feminist Theories of Law

    51.403 Historical Perspectives on Law, Economy and Society

    51.405 Contemporary Theories of Law, State and Politics

    51.502 Law and Gender Relations

    51.503 Law, Economy and Society

    51.504 Law, Crime and Social Order

    51.505 Law, State and Politics

    51.506 Historical Perspectives on Law and Society

    51.507 Race, Ethnicity and the Law

    51.520 International Economic Law: Regulation of Trade and Investment

    51.532 Feminism, Law and Social Transformation

    Political Science

    47.400 Topics in Canadian Government and Politics

    47.409 Politics in Quebec

    47.412 Politics of Western Liberal Democracies

    47.413 The State in Advanced Capitalist Societies

    47.414 Theory and Practice in Third World Development

    47.415 Selected Problems in Third World Development

    47.431 Marxist Thought

    47.432 Contemporary Marxism

    47.441 Business/Government Relations in Canada

    47.463 Analysis of International Political Economy

    47.464 Selected Problems in International Political Economy

    47.503 Political Parties in Canada

    47.508 The Politics of Energy and the Environment

    47.511 Canadian Federalism

    47.517 Selected Problems in African Politics

    47.522 Politics of Third World Development

    47.551 Selected Issues in Political Economy I

    47.552 Selected Issues in Political Economy II

    Public Administration
    50.502 The Political Economy of Regulation
    50.517 Project Management
    50.519 Management in the Para-Public Enterprise

    50.520 Public Sector Investment and Pricing

    50.536 Law of Public Authorities I

    50.537 Law of Public Authorities II

    50.562 Planning and Evaluation in Government I

    50.567 Political Economy of the State

    50.568 Policy and Decision Making

    50.570, 572, 573     Policy Seminars

    Sociology and Anthropology

    53.500 Classical Sociological Theory

    53.502 Contemporary Sociological Theory

    53.507 Social Change and Economic Development

    53.509 Philosophy of Social Science I

    53.511 Research Design and Data Analysis

    53.519 Development, Dependency and Gender

    53.522 The Anthropology of Underdevelopment

    53.525 Canadian Society

    53.527 Sociology of Formal Organizations

    53.529 Sociology of Science and Technology

    53.530 Social Institutions I

    53.531 Social Institutions II

    53.532 The Labour Process

    53.538 Feminist Analyses

    53.540 Political Sociology

    53.544 Race, Ethnicity and Class in Contemporary Societies

    53.545 Power and Stratification

    53.554 Selected Problems in Political Economy I

    53.555 Selected Problems in Political Economy II

    53.567 Contemporary Theories of Crime and Social Regulation

    53.568 Women and Work

    53.584 Modern Marxist Theory