Susan Strange’s International Economics and International

1.

Susan Strange’s International
Economics and International
Relations: A Case of Mutual Neglect
(1970)
Done by Ksenia Sizonova, 173

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“… what I have in mind is more specific than the
increase in economic interdependence and
interaction. It is that the pace of development in the
international economic system has accelerated, is still
accelerating and will probably continue to accelerate.
And that, in consequence, it is out-distancing and
outgrowing the rather more static and rigid
international political system”.
Strange, S. (1970). International Relations and Political
Economy, a Case of Mutual Neglect. International
Affairs, 46(2).
Susan Strange, the pioneer of IPE

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Terminology
Key words:
Neglected void ( = yet unanswered questions)
Bridge-building ( = creating IPE as a field of research)
Topical vocabulary collocations:
1. Lopsided development ( = one-sided development)
2. Dollar-biased skew on the economic side
3. Top Dollar Country (a.k.a the USA)

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The intellectual context
Cooper, R. N. (1968). The economics of interdependence. The International Executive, 10(4), 3-5.
Cox, R. W. (1969). Introduction: perspectives and problems. In International Organisation: World
Politics (pp. 15-44). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Haas, E. B. (1964). Beyond the Nation-State: Functionalism and International Organization.
Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

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The general context
1. European integration
EEC and Common Agricultural Policy
1. International financial system
Swaps, Special Drawing Rights, Eurodollar market
1. The development of multinational corporations
IBM
1. It is no longer only the governments that set the rules
The Berne Union, internationalization of union negotiations

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Implications
Strange’s lopsided development (international economy develops, international political system does
not): the wealth of a minority of economies increases, while international social and political tensions
increase.
IOs theory - the critique of liberal market-driven globalization:
international order and stability is not automatic
economic integration is not followed by political and social integration (Snower, 2019)
economic cooperation should be supported by political and social aspects
But: Strange states that ‘the political system will never catch up’!

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Summary
International economic system develops rapidly in the context of interdependence. International
political system remains stable.
The issues of integration, MNCs, extra-governmental rule-setting are not adequately addressed.
It is impossible to discuss international relations without talking about the economics, and vice
versa.
We need a political theory of analysis and explanation. It should be informed by economic theory but
not predominated by it.

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Discussion
Why is there a need to study parallely international politics and international economy?
What is the relation between increased economic interdependence and the development of
international economic system, according to Strange?
3. Strange looks at cases in which economic cooperation affects the politics of nation-states. Why
then IPE cannot be reduced to the integration studies?
4. Why, according to Strange, political analysis in IPE should predominate economic analysis?
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