Date of Award

8-2006

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Political Science

Supervisor

Tony Porter

Language

English

Abstract

The primary goal of this thesis is to evaluate the possibility of a rational - constructivist synthesis approach to international political economy (IPE) through a comparative case study approach. Following the approach suggested by Hasenclever, Rittberger and Mayer (1997,2000) for constructing a synthesis approach; this thesis develops a framework and testable hypotheses specific to international macroeconomic coordination. Utilizing a comparative framework between two periods of global macroeconomic imbalances (1982 - 1985 and 2003 - 2006) this thesis compares and contrasts three traditional approaches to IPE, interest-based rationalism, power-based rationalism and constructivism to the rational-constructivists synthesis approach. It is found that many of the anomalies generated by the three traditional approaches to IPE are answered by the rational-constructivist approach, thus arguing for the further development of this approach.

McMaster University Library


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