Political Economy of Transnational Food Chains

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

Students partaking in the course gain an understanding in how the international political economy of food has developed over time, and how it is understood and criticized. More specifically, it focuses on how political, economic, and social factors influence the production and distribution of food, highlighting the power dynamics and interests that shape food policies, and thus food systems. Student learning will be assessed through a combination of written assignments, a (group) discussion, and an end-of-term exam.

The first part of the course will focus on three distinct perspectives within the field of international political economy (IPE). First, we will examine the liberal perspective, which emphasizes the existence of cooperation and trust in international politics. This approach supports the idea that increasing global trade leads to mutual benefit and may be the most effective and efficient way to ensure food security. Next, we will explore the economic nationalist perspective, which emphasizes the role of state power and national interests in shaping the political economy of food. This viewpoint highlights the importance of protecting domestic agriculture and food industries from global market fluctuations and foreign competition. Thirdly, we will delve into the critical perspective, which critiques existing power structures and inequities within the global food system. Including analyses from Marxist, feminist, and environmentalist theory, this perspective challenges dominant paradigms and focuses on justice and exploitation.

The second part of the course focuses more on specific and empirical food-related issues. We will explain the roles played by established actors at the global level (i.e. the WB, IMF and WTO), study the relevance of (voluntary) certification mechanisms within the framework of corporate social responsibility, critically evaluate the sustainability of market-driven food systems, and analyze alternatives through the perspective of the food sovereignty movement.

Study materials

Literature

• Literature will be published on Canvas.

Objectives

• • Students are able to understand and apply basic concepts in the contemporary transnational organization of food production and distribution.
• Students are able to distinguish among key international political economy (IPE) perspectives (economic nationalist, liberal, and critical) and understand how each perspective has contributed to shaping contemporary food systems across the globe.
• Students are able to analyse global-local dynamics involving the roles and interactions of supranational, state, businesses and civil society actors at multiple scales.
• Students are able to apply theoretical insights to contemporary food-related issues, focusing on socio-economic and environmental sustainability.
• Students are able to critically analyse and compare scientific literature and media content (journals, online footage, websites) regarding the transnational production and distribution of food.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Self-study
• Presentation/symposium

The course is split up in two parts (week 1-4 and 5-7, final exam in week 8).

Part 1:

We start with a lecture on Monday, in which the key research questions and theoretical perspectives used in the course are introduced. In weeks 2-4, there will be no lectures. During the week, students are expected to study the compulsory literature. On Fridays, in a three-hour seminar we will explain, discuss and assess the material of that week (also see Assessment).

Part 2:

In weeks 5-7, three guest speakers are invited to share their knowledge on a more specific food-related issue. These lectures take place on Wednesday (week 5) and Mondays (week 6 and 7). On Fridays, the two-hour seminars will focus on two discussions, prepared by a group of students, in which different ways to interpret and deal with the mentioned problems are critically discussed (also see Assessment).

In week 8, a final digital exam on location will assess all of the studied material (compulsory literature, lecture and seminar slides and content).

Learning activities

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):

• Participation in fieldwork is compulsory and cannot be replaced by assignments or other courses.
• In case of practical sessions, the student is obliged to attend at least of 90% of the sessions and to prepare himself adequately, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. In case the student attends less than 90%, the practical sessions should be redone entirely.
• In case of tutorials/seminars with assignments, the student is obliged to attend at least 7 out of 8 seminars and to prepare thoroughly for these meetings, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. If the course has more than 8 seminars, the student can miss up to 1 extra meeting for every (part of) 8 tutorials/seminars. If the students attends less than the mandatory tutorials/seminars, the course cannot be completed.

Additional requirements for this course:

Because contact hours are limited, attendance at all sessions is mandatory. You are allowed to miss two sessions, provided you have a valid reason and have communicated this with Jaap or Jordy beforehand.

Assessment

Please find more detailed instructions of each assignment on Canvas.

In-class assignments - Part 1 (week 1-4):

During the final 60 minutes of each week's seminar, you will work on an assignment in a small group (group composition changes each week). The assignment is provided on paper and consists of several questions. It assesses knowledge on key concepts and insights from the compulsory literature and demands you to apply these concepts to a contemporary case or example. In order to practice, the first week's assignment does not count towards the final grade. Of the three resulting assignments, the average of the two highest grades counts as 25% of your final grade. The grade is an individual average of two group grades.

Discussion assignment - Part 2 (week 5-7):

Following up on the guest lecture earlier in the week, each seminar on Friday will include two Discussions, prepared by two small groups of students (3-4 people). The prepared discussion will focus on a case, provided by your teacher beforehand, and must include insights from the literature and lecture of that week. Additionally, you are expected to demonstrate your ability to interpret the issue from different IPE-perspectives, as discussed in weeks 1-4. The discussion assignment counts as 15% of your final grade. You will receive an individual grade.

Exam - week 8:

All compulsory literature and seminar and lecture slides and content will be assessed. The exam consists of several open questions and will count as 60% of your final grade.

Assessment diagram

Students that were enrolled in the course in previous years

Partial results remain valid for 1 year. Because the assessment of the course changed significantly, the following partial results from last year's course are considered:

Group Assignment (last year 50% of final grade) will cover for this year's In-class Assignment (25%) and Discussion Assignment (15%).

Exam (last year 50% of final grade) will cover for this year's Exam (60%).

Students that were enrolled in the course in previous years are expected to send an email to course coordinator Jordy Willems (j.willems2@uva.nl) before the course starts.

Inspection of assessed work

Assessment of In-class assignments and Discussion assignments is shared with students within one week, including brief feedback.

The grade of the final exam is communicated within 15 working days. Students will receive an email, on which they can reply in order to receive possibility to inspect their assessed work.

Assignments

see Assessment

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Honours information

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Additional information

We vinden het belangrijk dat je je op de UvA en bij Future Planet Studies veilig voelt. Krijg je onverhoopt te maken met ongewenst gedrag of voel je je onveilig, dan kun je terecht bij verschillende personen. Je melding wordt altijd vertrouwelijk behandeld. Kijk op onze website voor meer informatie over waar en bij wie je terecht kunt.

It is important that everyone feels safe at the UvA and Future Planet Studies. We are committed to provide social safety and we offer various forms of support for people experiencing inappropriate or unsafe situations. Consult the UvA website or Future Planet Studies Canvas page for more information and contact info.

Last year's student feedback

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Contact information

Coordinator

• J. Willems MSc

J. Willems (j.willems2@uva.nl)
J. Rothuizen (j.v.rothuizen@uva.nl)