International/Political Economy

Why is business so powerful? How is it that decisions taken in the City or financial markets can affect our everyday lives? Can we challenge our position in the existing global or domestic economy? Do states regulate markets in the interest of businesses or the public? What role is there for the public interest in political analysis of markets? How and why do ideas about economics become embedded in our social and political systems? In short, can we understand politics through reference to economics? The differing approaches within this chapter all assume a linkage between politics and economics, as disciplines, or as practice. The purpose of this chapter is to outline theories which discuss the relationship between politics and economics and explore the ways in which the two have been linked, in terms of their content and approach.