Feminist Political Economy and Global Development

This course explores feminist and gendered approaches to the study of global political economy. First, the course explores feminist contributions to the study of the world economy and its intersecting inequalities, including during COVID-19 times. It illustrates feminist analyses of the global assembly line and introduces critical readings of the global gender rights agenda. Second, the course introduces social reproduction theorizations and illustrates processes of commodification of social reproduction under neoliberalism, by examining the rise and features of global care and reproductive chains. Third, the course explores the links between accumulation, gender and race, by introducing gendered approaches to racial capitalism and indigeneity. It analyses feminist intersectional, anti-racist and decolonial political projects and movements including BLM; and it introduces debates on abolition vs carceral feminism. Finally, the course illustrates gendered approaches to the ecology, and explores issues of populationsim and reproductive justice.

Course Instructors

• Dr Alessandra Mezzadri, am99@soas.ac.uk (convenor)
• Dr Althea-Maria Rivas, ar66@soas.ac.uk
• Dr Iris Lim, il8@soas.ac.uk
• Dr Lisa Tilley, lt28@soas.ac.uk
   

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

At the end of this module, a student should be able to :

• Critically evaluate the theoretical & empirical basis of varied feminist critiques of political economy
• Clearly assess the contributions of feminist and race theories to the study of globalisation
• Develop analytical and critical skills, through ideas discussed in seminars
• Develop an ability to review distinct feminist authors’ viewpoints and identify their difference
• Develop an ability to synthesise & critically assess complex theories and arguments
• Develop knowledge of feminist methods for the study of the social sciences
• Develop knowledge of key policy debates in feminist political economy
• Develop strong presentation and writing skills, through written coursework

Workload

Teaching takes place through a weekly 2 hour seminar

Scope and syllabus

Topics include:

• Feminist Readings of the Global Economy & Intersecting Inequalities
• Gender & Labour in the Global Assembly Line
• Gendering Racial Capitalism
• The Global Gender Agenda
• Capitalism & Social Reproduction
• Global Care and Reproductive Chains
• Indigeneity, BLM and Contemporary Resistance
• Gendering the ecology
• Abolition Feminism vs. Carceral Feminism
• Populationism and Reproductive Justice in the Global Economy

* Please note that the list of topics is indicative and some may change based on expertise and the evolution of the literature and/or key debates.

Method of assessment

100% Coursework.

Resubmission of coursework regulations apply.

Suggested reading

• Arruzza C., Fraser N., and Bhattacharya T. (2018). Feminism of the 99%: A Manifesto. London: Verso.
• • Bhattachharyya G. (2018) Rethinking Racial Capitalism. Rowman and Littlefield.
• • Cavallero L. and Gago V. with Mason-Deese L. (2021) A Feminist Reading of Debt. London: Pluto.
• • Federici S. (2021) The Patriarchy of the Wage: Notes on Marx, Gender and Feminism. PM Press.
• • Mackay F. (2021) Female Masculinities and the Gender Wars. London: Bloomsbury.
• • Olufemi L. (2020) Feminism Interrupted. London: Pluto.
• • Tamale S. (2020) Decolonisation and Afro-feminism. Blackwell.
• • Verges F. (2021) A Decolonial Feminism. Pluto Press.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules