Understanding the Global Political Economy -- Contending perspectives on international political economy -- Three major figures and today's debates -- Evolution -- Forging a World Economy 1400-1800 -- Regions of the world economy -- European expansion -- The Industrial Revolution, Pax Britannica and Imperialism -- The Industrial Revolution -- Pax Britannica -- Renewed imperialism -- The Twentieth Century: World Wars and the Post-1945 Order -- War and economic disorder -- The post-1945 order -- Dynamics -- International Trade -- Theoretical perspectives: free trade and protectionism -- Transnational Production -- Theoretical perspectives: explaining the growth of TNCs -- Global Division of Labour -- Theoretical perspectives: Adam Smith and his critics -- The Global Financial System -- Theoretical perspectives: monetary policy--exchange rate--capital mobility trade-off -- Economic Development -- Theoretical perspectives on growth and development -- Global Environmental Change -- Theoretical perspectives: IPE and environmental studies -- Major developments -- Key issues -- Governing the Global Political Economy -- What is global governance and how does it work? -- 21st century challenges?