Module Directory

What is a public good? Why do people pollute? What is collective action, and what forms does it take? This module provides students with theoretical and empirical insights to understand and analyze problems of collective action – i.e. situations in which members of communities need to coordinate shared interests. The module introduces the analytical concepts of collective action and presents applied local and global cases.

In addition to theoretic issues, the module focuses on the discussion of several contemporary issues: global disasters, global health, environmental cooperation, financial crises and globalization.

The aim of this module is:

• To introduce students to key international economic and political concepts.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Understand dynamics of collective action and globalization.


2. Understand what public goods are and how they differ from other types of goods.


3. Discuss the role of governments with regards to public policy and market failure.


4. Apply insights from collective action, public goods and the role of governments to real-world policy issues.


5. Identify and understand major collective action problems, including environmental issues, global health challenges, financial crises and disaster response.


6. Evaluate different approaches used by governments, international organizations, markets and civil society to address shared global challenges.

Transferable skills

1. Communication skills through written work, presentations, discussion, and debate.


2. Teamwork and collaboration through group-based project work and presentations.


3. Research skills through engaging with academic literature, contemporary case studies, and policy materials.


4. Analytical skills through interpreting political and economic arguments and evidence.


5. Digital literacy through preparing presentations, conducting online research, and evaluating sources.


6. Time management and organization through balancing quizzes, written assignments, and group projects.


7. Global awareness through examining international political and economic issues from comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives.

This module will be taught over 3 hours per week, with two one-hour lectures and one one-hour seminar.

What we expect of you during lecture and classes:

• To attend all lectures and classes after having done the required reading
• To pay attention and take notes as necessary.
• To think about the readings and lectures notes before the class and be ready to discuss them: try to identify the key assumptions in the texts; map the structure of the argument; underline the conclusions. Highlight to yourself points you don’t understand. (If you don’t understand it, there’s great likelihood others have not understood it either, so don’t be shy to ask.) Ask yourself whether you agree with the text, whether you can identify weaknesses or gaps in the argument, and what could someone who disagrees with it argue against it.
• To offer your participation as required (answering questions, asking questions etc.). Learning about and discussing these texts is a communal endeavour and it is a matter of good citizenship to contribute. Further, part of what we want you to achieve, and what we mark you for, is clear and confident oral presentation. You are expected to answer questions, raise new points, and contribute to the progression of discussion in class.