Global political economy

The global economy is characterised by great unevenness and persistent and worsening inequality amongst peoples between and within countries. Global Political Economy (GPE) refers to an approach to questions about ways in which economy and society are structured at different scales and across geographies from a historical and systemic perspective that pays particular attention to the interrelations and dynamics of the global economy system’s constituent parts. Studies in GPE are necessarily interdisciplinary.

We welcome applications from students wishing to approach pertinent issues that address contemporary global challenges who are keen to take history and historical analysis seriously, who wish to consciously engage with methodological questions in order to inform an analytical approach that bridges economics and other social sciences. The successful student will join a vibrant and growing community of academics and PhD students in the Open Political Economy Group (OPEG) at the OU.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

Potential research projects

• The global division of labour and global inequalities
• Shifting poles of economic power
• The political economy of industrial development in the Global South
• The political economy of food systems
• The political economy of manufacturing
• The political economy of regional economic integration (e.g. in Southern Africa and China’s Belt and Road Initiative)

Potential supervisors

• Dr Julia Chukwuma
• Dr Christina Laskaridis
• Professor Susan Newman
• Dr Emilie Rutledge
• Mr. Alan Shipman
• Professor Smita Srinivas
• Dr Lesslie Valencia

Fees and funding

Some of our research students are funded via The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership; others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

Links

• Economics at The Open University
• Innovation, Knowledge and Development Research Centre
• Innogen Institute
• Open Political Economy Group
• Research at The Open University