Kautilya’s Emphasis on Economic Provision as Political Control: A Frankfurt School / Neo-Marxist Reading Introduction Kautilya’s Arthashastra—the canonical treatise of ancient Indian statecraft—places economic provision, revenue mobilisation, and material management at the heart of political technique. The ruler is an economic manager: ensuring supply, administering land and taxes, provisioning the army and officials, maintaining granaries, … Continue reading Could Kautilya’s emphasis on economic provision be interpreted as a mechanism of political control that legitimizes hierarchical authority through material dependence? Analysing this through a Frankfurt School or neo-Marxist lens.
Tag: Political Economy
How has the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) shaped the trade regimes, economic policies, and developmental trajectories of developing countries, and what structural advantages and constraints has it imposed within the broader political economy of the international trading system?
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), established in 1947 as a multilateral framework to promote trade liberalisation, significantly influenced the trade regimes, economic policy orientations, and developmental pathways of developing countries. Conceived initially as a temporary arrangement pending the creation of an International Trade Organization (ITO), GATT evolved into a quasi-permanent institution, later … Continue reading How has the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) shaped the trade regimes, economic policies, and developmental trajectories of developing countries, and what structural advantages and constraints has it imposed within the broader political economy of the international trading system?
How has the increasing influence of multinational corporations and transnational civil society actors reshaped the structure, agency, and normative frameworks of contemporary international politics?
Multinational Corporations, Transnational Civil Society, and the Transformation of International Politics The transformation of international politics in the post–Cold War and post-Westphalian context has been profoundly shaped by the increasing influence of non-state actors, particularly multinational corporations (MNCs) and transnational civil society organizations. These actors, while historically peripheral in traditional realist and state-centric models of … Continue reading How has the increasing influence of multinational corporations and transnational civil society actors reshaped the structure, agency, and normative frameworks of contemporary international politics?
How did the collapse of actually existing socialism and the triumph of neoliberalism marginalize Marxist frameworks in IR, despite the persistence of global inequality and exploitative core-periphery relations?
The collapse of actually existing socialism — symbolized most dramatically by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 — alongside the global triumph of neoliberalism in the late 20th century profoundly reshaped the intellectual terrain of international relations (IR). This twin transformation marginalized Marxist and … Continue reading How did the collapse of actually existing socialism and the triumph of neoliberalism marginalize Marxist frameworks in IR, despite the persistence of global inequality and exploitative core-periphery relations?
Critically assess how Gramscian theory of hegemony provides valuable insights into the nature of global power.
Gramscian Theory of Hegemony and the Nature of Global Power: A Critical Analysis Introduction The concept of hegemony developed by the Italian Marxist thinker Antonio Gramsci offers a powerful analytical framework for understanding the nature of global power in the modern world. Unlike traditional realist theories that focus primarily on military might and economic dominance, … Continue reading Critically assess how Gramscian theory of hegemony provides valuable insights into the nature of global power.
What are the core principles of world-systems theory in political economy?
Core Principles of World-Systems Theory in Political Economy Introduction World-systems theory (WST) represents a significant paradigm within the field of political economy, offering a macro-sociological framework for understanding the historical development of the global capitalist system. Developed primarily by Immanuel Wallerstein in the 1970s, this approach challenges state-centric and developmentalist models by situating political and … Continue reading What are the core principles of world-systems theory in political economy?
The political economy perspective in Comparative Politics has redefined the understanding of state power, governance, and development. Critically analyze how dependency theory, world-systems theory, and neo-Marxist approaches explain political and economic inequalities between the Global North and the Global South.
The political economy perspective in Comparative Politics examines the interplay between economics and politics, highlighting global inequalities shaped by dependency theory, world-systems theory, and neo-Marxist approaches. These frameworks critique traditional views, arguing that colonialism, capitalist structures, and economic hierarchies perpetuate disparities, affecting state governance and policy in various global contexts.
Comparative Politics has evolved from a state-centric institutional analysis to a multidimensional inquiry encompassing political economy, society, and culture. Critically analyze this transformation with reference to the major approaches in Comparative Politics. How do these approaches address the limitations of traditional institutionalism?
Comparative Politics has transitioned from a state-centric, institutional framework to a multidimensional approach integrating behavioral, economic, and cultural perspectives. This evolution addresses past limitations by considering informal structures, societal influences, and economic factors, resulting in a dynamic discipline that emphasizes interdisciplinary methods for a comprehensive understanding of diverse political systems.
“Comparative Politics is both a method of analysis and an academic discipline.” Critically examine this statement with reference to its evolution and key theoretical approaches.
Comparative Politics examines political systems and processes across countries, evolving as a method and academic discipline. It employs rigorous methodologies like case studies and statistical analyses to find similarities and differences among political systems. The field has expanded its scope to include various theoretical paradigms, emphasizing empirical analysis while addressing challenges related to coherence and interdisciplinary complexity.