POL2204: FOUNDATION OF POLITICAL ECONOMY

FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO


POL2204: FOUNDATION OF POLITICAL ECONOMY

2005/2006 SESSION


COURSE LECTURER: M.M. YUSUF
VENUE:
TIME:

INTRODUCTION

During the last twenty years the Science of Political Economy has taken another shift (from the old controversies) on principles and method which now dominate the science, especially in Europe and United State of America.

This new approach is founded and constructed on the principles of neo-classical and Neo-liberalism of the current globalisation. To distinguish this Political Economy from the “Old” it is often called “The New Political Economy”.

Accordingly, traditional doctrines, very influential in the science are being relegated. This is the case of the Marxist Political Economy. The development of Marxian Political Economy arose out of the controversy with Bourgeoisie perspectives on the science. This implies that with shift to Neo-Liberalism, the science is carried back to the “old” and the dead tradition.

My special intention is to bring back Marxian Political Economy as a light to understanding and analysis of the current globalisation.

To be more precise, Marxist Political Economy is defined here as an integration of Political Economic methods and analysis informed by an understanding of Marxism as the theory and practice of working-class self-emancipation, as well as Marx’s labour theory of value.

In Nigeria, to be more specific, Marxist theory was the subject of increasing interest and of fervent discussions in our Universities. Students and University lecturers developed many theories and creative ways of practicalising them. Today, in many academic circles it meets only with indifference and or contempt. At best it is no longer recognised. Most students and University lecturers do not know about it. Those who knew it have forgotten about it. Others would say socialism has collapsed, so there is no need of Marxist theory.

If socialism as a political practice has collapsed socialist ideas and Marxist theory are still alive. Indeed, Marxist theory is daily being enriched with new ideas to be used to understand changes in World today. That is what we intend to do in “Foundation of Political Economy”.

The central focus of the course in this academic session is Marxist Political Economy in the age of globalisation. It is to apply Marxist theory in understanding issues about globalisation. The course has identified six areas for treatment. Firstly, is the concept, the history and the subject-matter of Political Economy. Secondly, the “Old and the New” Perspectives on Political Economy. Third is the methodological and theoretical foundations of Marxian Political Economy. Fourth is Marxist theory, anti-globalisation and Socialist Revolution. Fifthly, concerns Marxist Political Economy in Nigeria. This section will contain Marxist theories of Economic crisis and the Nigeria evidence, then globalisation, Unions and labour struggle in Nigeria. Finally, there will be a survey of literature by students on Marxist Political Economy in Nigeria.

TOPICS AND READINGS
1. General Introduction:
Introducing the course; the topics to be treated; the readings; course requirements; Assessment of the programme by students; other issues.

2. The subject matter of Political Economy
History of Political Economy; Unity of Political Science and Economics; a multi-disciplinary course; in search of definitions; central concepts in Political Economy. What issues does it deal with? What method of investigation?

Required Readings
1. Bruno S. Frey, Modern Political Economy pgs. 1 – 33
2. James A. Caporaso and David P. Levine, Theories of Political Economy, chapter 1
3. Beckman B. “Political Science and Political Economy”, in Barongo Y.R. (ed.), Political Science in Africa: A Critical Review
4. Eskor Toyo, “Primary Requirements for the Unity of Political Science and Economic”, in Barongo Y.R. (ed.) Op cit.
5. Eskor Toyo, “The mode of production Nucleaus as Integrator of Economic and Political Sciences”. In NJPS Vol.2 No.2
6. Henry Sidgwick, The principles of Political Economy. Chapter II
7. Henry Sidgwick, The Art of Political Economy. Chapter I
8. From Wikipedia, “Political Economy”. Website
9. Claus Offe, “Political Economy: Sociological Perspectives”, in Robert E. Godwin and Hans-Dete Klingemann (ed.), A New Handbook of Political Science
10. Eaton J., Political Economy Pgs. 1 – 17
11. Meskeren, “The Marxist Leninist concept of Political Economy”, in Meskerem: A Quarterly Ideological Journal of the Central Committee of COPWE
12. Jan-Eric Lane and Suante Ersson, Comparative Political Economy; A Developmental Approach
13. Robert Gilpin, The Political Economy of International Relations. Chapter I
14. Sergeillym and Alexander Motylev, What is Political Economy?
15. G.A. Kozlov, Political Economy: Capitalism. Chapter I

3. Perspectives on the Science of Political Economy.

Required Readings
1. James Petras and Kent Trachte (ed.) “Liberal, structural and Radical Approaches to Political Economy: An Assessment and an Alternative”, in James Petras, critical perspectives on Imperialism and Social Classes in the Third World.
2. Robert Gilpin, Op. cit chapter 2
3. A.B. Atkinson, “Political Economy: Old and New”, in Robert E.G. and Klingermann (ed.), Op. cit.
4. James E.A. and Albato A; “Political Economy: An overview”, in Robert E.G. and Klingermann (eds.), Op. cit
5. Ernest Mandel, Marxist Economic Theory. Chapter 18.
6. G.A. Kozlov, Op. cit. Pgs 12 – 17.
7. James A. Caporaso and D.P. Levine, Op. cit.
8. Burno S. Frey, Op. cit.
9. Progress Publisher, Present-Day Non-Marxist Political Economy: A critical Analysis

4. Post-Modernism and Marxist Political Economy: Continuous relevance of Marxist theory in comprehending the current globalisation

Required Readings
1. Alan Woods and Rob Sewell, “What is Marxism”. Website.
2. John Gledhill, “What’s New, What’s Global and What’s Marxism at the end of the 20th Century? Website
3. Adam Barnhart, “Post-modern Theory and Karl Marx”. Website
4. Mary Klages, “Post-modernism”. Website

5. New Communication Technology and Marxist Theory

Required Readings
1. Rally Comrades, “Economic globalisation: Capitalism in the age of electronics”. Website
2. Ernest Mandel, Late Capitalism. Chapters 3, 5, 6 and 8.
6. Marxian Political Economy: Methodological and Theoretical Foundations. Historical Materialism; Dialectical Materialism; Classes and class struggle; contradictions in the Accumulation Process;

Required Readings
1. Bade Onimode, An Introduction to Marxist Political Economy. Chapters 1, 2, and 3
2. T.B. Bottomore, Karl Marx: Selected Writings in Sociology and Social Philosophy Pgs. 51 – 67 and 178 – 2002
3. Caparaso and Levine, Op. cit. Chapter 3
4. Karl Marx, The German Ideology. Chapter I
5. Karl Marx, Preface to a Contribution to the critique of Political Economy. In selected works. Volume one.

7. Marx and the Market
1. Bade Onimode, Op. cit. Chapters 4 and 5
2. G.A. Kozlov, Op. cit. Chapter 4
3. Ernest Mandel, Op. cit. Chapters 3 and 6
4. Hymer S., “The Multinational Corporation and the Law of Uneven Development”, in Hugo Radice (ed.). International Firms and Modern Imperialism.
5. Geofrey Kay, Development and Underdevelopment: A Marxist Analysis. Chapters 2, 4 and 5.
6. Robert Gilpin, Op. cit. Chapter 7

8. Marxist Theory, Globalisation and Imperialism
1. James Petras and Henry Veltmeyer, Globalisation Unmasked: Imperialism in the 21st Century.
2. Lorimer Doug, Imperialism in the 21st Century: War, neo-liberalism and globalisation
3. Chris Harman, Analysing Imperialism. In International Socialism
4. Immanuel Wallerstein, “US Weakness and the Struggle for Hegemony”. In Monthly Review July – August, 2003.
5. Peter Gowan, “US Hegemony Today”. In Monthly Review Op. cit.
6. John Bellamy Fonster, “The new age of Imperialism”. In Monthly Review Op. cit.
7. Ray Kiely, “Capitalist expansion and the Imperialism – Globalisation debate: contemporary Marxist explanations”
8. Nick Beans, “The Significance and Implications of Globalisation: A Marxist Assessment”.
9. Jan Otto Anderson, “Imperialism: Marxist Analysis”. Website
10. Chu Van Cap, “Marx and Engels on Economic Globalisation”. Website
11. Dave Renton (ed.), Introduction to Marx on Globalisation
12. Eskor Toyo, Background to Globalisation
13. Yash Tandon, Globalisation and the South: The logic of Exploitation
14. D.W. Nabudere, The Political Economy of Imperialism
15. V.I. Lenin, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism

9. Marxist Theory: Imperialism, Dependency and World Economy

Required Readings
1. Anthony Brewer, Op. cit
2. Robert Gilpin, Op. cit. Chapter 7
3. Bill Warren, Imperialism: Proneer of capitalism
4. Vicky Randal and Robin Theobald, Political Change and Underdevelopment

10. Marxist Theory, Globalisation and the State

Required Readings
1. Bade Onomode Op. cit. Chapter II
2. Lenin, State and Revolution: Popular Outline
3. Nicos Poulantzas, Classes in contemporary capitalism
4. Nicos Poulantzas, State, Power and Socialism
5. Holloway J. and Piccioti S. (eds.), State and Capital: A Marxist debate
6. Robin NUrray, “Internationalisation of capital and the Nation State”. In Hugo Radice, Op. cit.
7. Williams I. Robinson, “Capitalist globalisation and Transnationalisation of State”. Website
8. Colin Barker, “A note on the Theory of capitalist states”. Website
9. Ernest Mandel, “Marxist Theory of the state”. Website
10. Rai Tabor, “The Marxist Theory of the state”. Website

11. Marxist Theory: Globalisation, Classes and Class Interests

Required Readings
1. David Yaffe, “The Political and Economics of Globalisation”. Website
2. Leslie Sklair, “The Transnational Capitalist class and the Discourse of Globalisation”. Website
3. William I. Robinson and Jerry Harris”, Towards a Global Ruling Class: Globalisation and the Transnational Capitalist Class”. Website
4. Style, “A Theory of Global Capitalism – Production, Class and State in a Transnational World (politics)”. Website

12. Marxist Theory and Anti-Globalisation Struggles

Required Readings
1. Website, Globalisation and International Working Class: A Marxist Assessment of the International Committee of the fourth International.
2. Hardt and Negri, Empire
3. No Name; Marxism, Globalisation and Politics in Hardt and Negris Empire
4. In Defence of Marxism; Anti-Globalisation and Marxism”. Website
5. New Formulation”, Theory of the Anti-Globalisation Movement”. Website
6. David Barber, “The Anti-Globalisation Movement”. Website
7. Wage Slave, A Marxist Critique of Anti-globalisation Movement”. Website
8. The Beirut Declaration and Action Plan, “Where Next for the Global Anti-War and Anti—Globalisation Movements?”. Website
9. Wikipedia, “Anti-Globalisation”. Website
10. Walden Bello, “The Struggle for a Deglobalisal World”. Website

13. Marxist Theory: Globalisation, Socialist Revolution and Socialism

Required Readings
1. Bade Onimode, Op. cit. Pgs 244 – 250
2. Ernest Mandel, Op. cit. Chapters 16 and 17
3. G.A. Kozlov, Political Economy: Socialism
4. Leslie Sklain, Globalisation: Capitalism and its Alternatives. Chapters 10, 11 and 12

14. Marxist Political Economy in Nigeria: This will cover three different issues
i. Marxist theories of economic crisis and the Nigerian evidence/debate
ii. Globalisation, workers and Trade Unions struggle in Nigeria
iii. A survey of Literature

Required Readings
1. Yusuf Bala Usman and Yusuf Bangura, Debate on the Nigerian Economic Crisis
2. Eskor Toyo, Imperialism, primitive Accumulation and Third World Orientations (A Clarification of issues). Memeo
3. Yusuf Bala Usman, “Middlemen, consultants, contractors, and the solutions to the current Economic Crisis”. Public Lecture, 1984
4. Yusuf Banguna, “The Nigerian Economic Crisis: contending Explanations, official policies and Alternative solutions”.
5. M.M. Yusuf, Class conflict and political change in Nigeria”. 1979 – 1985. Pgs 163 – 171
6. Yahaya Hashim, “Cooptation, control and Resistance: The state and the Nigeria Labour Congress”. In Bjorn Beckman and L.M. Sachikorye (eds.), Labour Regimes and Liberalisation: The Restructuring of state-society Relations in Africa.
7. Bjorn Beckman, Trade Unions and Institutional Reform: Nigerian Experiences with South African and Ugandan Comparisons. Conference paper.

15. Conclusion
This period will be divided into two sessions. First is the presentation of Seminar long essay. Second is a critical discourse by students on their classroom experience and views on the subject-matter of the course, the method of imparting knowledge on the course, the usage of internet, the team work as well as the education received and its relevance.

Additional Readings
1. Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, “Manifesto of the communist party”, in their selected works. Vol. 1.
2. Karl Marx, “The British Rule in India”. Selected Works Vol. 1.
3. Karl Marx, “The Future Results of British Rule in India”, Selected Works Vol. 1
4. Karl Marx, Grundrisse
5. Karl Marx, “Wage Labour and Capital” Selected Works Vol. 1
6. Ernest Mandel, Marxist Economic Theory
7. Ernest Marxist, Late Capitalism
8. G.A. Kozlov, Political Economy: Capitalism
9. Claude Ake, A Political Economy of Africa
10. Ralph Pattman, Understanding International Political Economy
11. Richard W. Marsbach, Global Puzzle; Issues and Actions in World Politics
12. J.A. Williams, “Globalisation and Inequality: Past and Present”. In J.A. Jeffrey and D.A. Lake, International Political Economy.
13. Martin Khor, Globalisation and the South: Some Critical issues
14. Dani R., “Sense and Nonsense in the Globalisation. Debate”, in Jeffrey and Lake, Op. cit.
15. Phillip G.C., “Globalisation and the changing logic of collective Action”. In Jeffrey and Lake, Op. cit.
16. Robert Glipin, Global Political Economy: Understanding the International Economic Order.
17. Lyubisa Mittrovie, “Globalisation and the New World Order”, in Review of International Affairs Vol. 1 No.1082
18. Robert H. Bates and Anne O. Kruege, Political and Economic Interactions in Economic Policy Reform
19. Claude Ake, The Political Economy: Explanatory Notes on Marxian Legacy in Africa.
20. Howard Starley, “Globalisation or Colonisation”. Website

Course Requirements
The teaching of the course is by giving lectures on the topics outline above. Each topic is expected to be covered in one lecture period. When the duration of the semester is against my plan some topics may be combined and treated in one lecture period. However, the last thirty minutes of each period will be for presentation and discussion on chosen text or question for weekly assignment.

Assessment of students is based on end of the semester Examination (70%) and continues Assessment (30%). The C.A will be determined in the following ways:

Weekly Assignment/Participation in Class Discussion/Attendance
There will be weekly readings and presentation of the work for discussion. You will be divided into seminars and in the last 30 minutes of each period, a seminar will be called upon. Class participation is very important if every one is to learn from other people’s points of view. Therefore, when a seminar is called some will submit their reports while others will respond.

The report is not going to be simple summaries. They should bring out three things. First, is to briefly identify the issues raised in the text. Secondly, bring out one of the major issues and analyse the argument by giving a critique of it. Thirdly, in making the critique brings some empirical evidence to support your observation on the author’s argument.

My usual rule applies here too. That is that any student who missed one weekly assignment will not be awarded any mark for the weekly assignments (10%).

SMALL RESEARCH PROJECT
Each seminar will be involved in a small research project. The research paper will reflect the course coverage on “Marxist Theory and the current globalisation”. The paper is expected to be presented according to a standard of original contribution, with theoretical insights on the area of the research. A paper which has not followed the standard and or contains many typographical errors will not be graded (5%).

RESEARCH PROJECT RESPONSE PAPER
The small research project of each seminar will be given to another seminar to respond and present while the original authors will be by the side to defend their work.



ICT USAGE
We will source many of the teaching materials via the internet. I have hereby attached a paper for you on how to use internet. You are expected to develop the skills on how to use the New Communication System for learning and research. Every week you will go on internet. On any paper you write I want see a lot of internet input. As of students of POL.4301, you too are hereby advised to form “internet partnership” and “cyber club”.

Then, each member of the class must have an e-mail account. The posting of relevant messages on the course is encouraged. Before the end of the semester, each seminar will e-mail me one work and anyone of you who wishes can e-mail me. If we succeed in making good use of ICT I will personally open e-mail account specifically for “foundation of Political Economy” (5%).

SUPERVISED TEST
There will be a test based on the paper “study guidelines for effective performance by my students”.

ATTENDANCE
Class attendance is very important. If you are going to miss my class, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance. When a seminar is called, anybody present will be awarded 5%. Anybody absent or for whatever reason is called and not present will get -5% from his/her total CA.

A SURVEY OF LITERATURE ON MARXIST POLITICAL ECONOMY IN NIGERIA
Before the end of the semester each seminar will make a survey of the literature and compile not less than 20 different texts on Marxist Political Economy in Nigeria. The survey is to be informed by the coverage and the subject-matter of this course (5%).

CRITICAL COMMENTS BY STUDENTS ON THEIR CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE
At the end of the semester each seminar will make a presentation on the classroom experience as specified on the teaching programme circulated.

ON BEING AGAINST PLAGIARISM
In order to purify the system of learning and research I have to take strict disciplinary action against any student who is found on plagiarism.

What is Plagiarism? In Oxford Mini reference Dictionary you find the following entries on the word plagiarism… “take and use (another’s writings, etc) as one’s own”.

To be precise, plagiarism is academic dishonesty. This includes dishonesty in assignments, tests or in short claiming credit for any work not done or done by others.

To avoid plagiarism you must not paraphrase someone else’s work and present it as your own. Again, all sources consulted should be properly acknowledged. While reviewing your colleagues work it must be strictly on what the authors wrote about.

The penalty is that any assignment found to be plagiarised will receive a zero. Also, any student found plagiarising in a test/examination will get a zero. Any student found in two instances of plagiarism will result in being assessed “00” in the overall continuous assessment on the course.