Research Paper Guidelines For Political Economy Analysis

Research Paper Guidelines for Political Economy Analysis and Proposal Submission

In consultation with the professor, you will pick a topic for your research paper. Then you will submit a proposal which will not be graded but must be approved in order for the final paper to be accepted. A separate handout on this project will be provided. It is worth 30 percent of your grade. Due Dates: 10/31 One paragraph description of your research paper project is due (not graded but required) 11/09 Research Paper proposal is due. Turn in a hard copy in class and submit one electronically on blackboard. Research Papers are due on 12/07.

Papers should be between approximately 15 pages in length (not including title page and bibliography). For 400 level courses, Politics and Law now requires the use of the Chicago citation style (in-text). Papers should be proofed to: 1) eliminate typographical and grammatical errors and 2) ensure good paragraph organization and sentence fluency. The research paper must have at its core a well-formulated research question which you will try to answer using academic journals, primary sources, and other relevant material. It should be a question relevant to international political economy (not just US political economy).

We will go over potential topics in class. The research question should address an empirical problem that can be explored through academic research and data. Your question may aim to explain why certain policies are adopted, why specific countries behave in particular ways, or whether particular outcomes are linked to underlying causes. Examples of suitable questions include: Why did the US impose sanctions on Chinese tires? Why did Saudi Arabia join the WTO? Do sovereign wealth funds pose threats to national security?

The research process involves selecting a meaningful question, identifying the appropriate methodology to answer it, defining, describing, and analyzing the issue, and ultimately providing an explanation or prediction. Your research should aim to add to the existing literature by filling gaps or testing hypotheses. Emphasis should be placed on understanding causal relationships, not merely correlations.

The formulation of hypotheses is a key step. A hypothesis should be testable and specify expected relationships between variables. For example, a descriptive hypothesis might state: "NAFTA creates jobs in the US." An explanatory hypothesis might argue: "Saudi Arabia joined the WTO because of global economic pressures." Your hypotheses should be grounded in theory and evidence, avoiding fallacies such as tautologies or false inferences.

To develop your argument, you can employ deduction from the literature or logic, induction from observations or data, or grounded theory based on case studies. You will gather evidence, test your hypotheses, and analyze whether your findings support or contradict your expectations. Your final paper should be well-organized, thoroughly proofed, and carefully cited using Chicago style.

Potential topics include analysis of financial crises, government regulation, regional economic organizations, sanctions and aid, the role of multinational corporations, environment, labor, intellectual property, illicit activities, economic liberalization, or country case studies such as Zimbabwe or Cuba. The key is to choose a compelling, manageable, and policy-relevant question that advances understanding in international political economy.

Paper For Above instruction

Writing an effective research paper in international political economy requires careful planning, clear focus, and rigorous analysis. The first step is selecting a meaningful research question that addresses an empirical puzzle or policy concern. For instance, asking "Why did the US impose sanctions on Chinese tires?" prompts investigation into economic, political, or strategic rationales behind trade restrictions, and can involve analyzing trade data, policy documents, and international relations theory. Similarly, exploring "Why did Saudi Arabia join the WTO?" involves understanding domestic economic interests, international negotiations, and the role of global economic order.

The core of a strong research paper lies in developing hypotheses that can be tested with empirical evidence. These hypotheses should specify expected relationships between variables and be grounded in existing theory or literature. For example, a hypothesis might posit that "Countries with higher levels of economic liberalization are more likely to join international trade organizations," which can then be tested using cross-national data. Alternatively, a hypothesis could examine causality, such as: "The rise in sovereign wealth fund investments is caused by increased global commodity prices," which necessitates identifying variables and gathering relevant data.

Methodologically, research in political economy often employs quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. Quantitative analysis might involve statistical testing of correlations or causal models using datasets, while qualitative analysis could include case studies, interviews, or process tracing to understand complex policy decisions. Combining these approaches can enrich your analysis. For example, a case study of Zimbabwe’s economic crisis can be complemented by cross-national comparisons to identify patterns of economic reform or failure.

The structure of your paper should logically flow from introduction, literature review, hypothesis development, methodological explanation, data analysis, to conclusions and policy implications. The introduction should highlight the importance of the question and its relevance. The literature review contextualizes your problem within existing scholarship. The methodology section clarifies your research design, variable operationalization, and analytical approach. The results section presents findings, supported by appropriate data and tables. The discussion interprets the findings in relation to your hypotheses and broader theories.

Citations must adhere to Chicago style, with proper references for all sources used, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books, policy reports, and credible online sources. Precision, clarity, and coherence are essential qualities of an academic research paper. Proofreading to eliminate grammatical errors and improve sentence fluency enhances credibility and readability.

By following these guidelines, you can produce a comprehensive and scholarly piece that contributes to our understanding of international political economy. Remember, the ultimate goal is to answer your research question convincingly through evidence and analysis, advancing theoretical knowledge and offering policy insights where applicable.

References

• Baldwin, R. (2016). The Great Convergence: Information Technology and the New Globalization. Harvard University Press.
• Gao, H., & Zhang, Q. (2017). China's Path to the WTO: Domestic Politics and International Negotiation. Journal of International Economics, 104, 33-45.
• Harberger, A. C. (2014). Economic Development and International Trade. World Economy, 37(4), 529-546.
• Oatley, T. (2019). International Political Economy. Routledge.
• Rogoff, K., & Reinhart, C. (2009). This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly. Princeton University Press.
• Schott, J. J. (2017). The Political Economy of Trade Policy. Princeton University Press.
• Stiglitz, J. E. (2002). Globalization and Its Discontents. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Weingast, B. R., & Wittman, D. (2017). The Political Economy of Democracy. Stanford University Press.
• World Bank. (2018). World Development Report 2018: Learning to Realize Education’s Promise. The World Bank.
• Zhou, X. (2016). China's Foreign Economic Relations and Its WTO Accession. Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, 1(3), 245-258.