INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

Transcription

1 Economic Horizons, May - August 2012, Volume 14, Number 2, Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac UDC: 33 eissn www. ekfak.kg.ac.rs Book review UDC: (049.32) doi: /ekonhor G INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY Balaam, D. N., & Veseth, M. (Eds.). (2008). New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN , XVIII+509 Milka Grbic* Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia In the book titled Introduction to International Political Economy (IPE), edited by Balaam, D. N. and Veseth, M. a group of authors analyze a number of complex issues of international and global economies in a comprehensive way. The book is structured into five parts representing a completed entity both from the theoretical point and the practical one. In the first part of the book, titled Perspectives on IPE (Chapters 1-5), Balaam, D. N. and Veseth, M. present the key conceptual elements of IPE. An emphasis is put on the theoretical concepts necessary for the analysis and understanding of the issues and problems within IPE, such as: mercantilism, liberalism, and structuralism. These approaches have enabled the authors to discuss possible regularities of the formation and development of complex economic phenomena studied by IPE. Various actors are in the focus (individuals, classes, states) and their relationship to the market, different economic activities and the alternative structures of society. Therefore, different values are emphasized, such as the power and wealth of nations, economic freedom, so as to be able to formulate a unique position on the possibilities of solving problems caused by socio-economic and political crises. * Correspondence to: M. Grbiic, Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac, Dj. Pucara 3, Kragujevac, Serbia; mgrbic@kg.ac.rs The subject ma#er of the study in the second part of the book, titled IPE Structures: Production, Finance, Security, and Knowledge (Chapters 6-10, Balaam, D. N., Veseth, M., Singleton, R.), are the agreements, treaties, institutions and other relations that connect people in different ways. It points out that international trade presents the central theme to be discussed in IPE. The growth of international trade is a reflection of the increasing globalization and liberalizing movement of goods, services, labor and capital. By linking countries with each other, trade affects the formation of significant economic, political and social interdependence. However, this process results in forming tensions and conflicts between countries. Namely, for the majority of countries, trade represents the way of generating revenue, opening new jobs and increasing the appropriation of profits, until then for developing countries trade, o%en, a critical component of their development plans, primarily because of low competitiveness. According to that the states are forced, more than ever, to regulate trade, in order to limit and increase the benefits. In the third part of the book, titled State-Market Tensions Today (Chapters 11-14, Balaam, D. N., Veseth, M., O Neil, P. H., Dillman, B.), issues deemed to be relevant for developing countries are discussed. In this part, the fundamental problems existing between economy and politics, which appear in the integration process,

2 138 Economic Horizons (2012) 14(2), are indicated. Based on the analysis of the key issues of the European Union, Balaam, D. N. and Veseth, M. point out that regionalism is one of the most important political and economic trends. There is a more powerful regional economic integration, which leads to the rise of regional trading blocs. It is indicative of the fact that economic integration is an assumption of a greater efficient use of limited resources and the higher rates of economic growth. However, the integrated market does not necessarily mean integrated states. While some countries, first of all highly developed, consider that the integration brings them benefits, other countries hold the national economic space in which they defend their acquired positions. This indicates the specific terms of establishing different forms of regional cooperation and integration as well as the process complexity of forming regional entities. The main idea is to find answers to the question of whether economy is more important than politics, which is still unanswerable at the beginning of XXI century. In the thirteenth chapter, titled States and Markets in Transition (O Neil, P. H.), it is stated that the transformation of the political and economic systems was one of the biggest challenges for socialist countries. The transformation of the socialist system considered the construction of new political and economic institutions, first of all the change of the legal system, the privatization of the state-owned property and establishing a market, where the prices of production factors, goods and services are freely formed. The success of the reform varied from country to country. The author points out that Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic are o%en cited as the examples of a successful transition, so that the accession of these countries to the European Union considers the recognition of their progress in political and economic terms. The author indicates that it is difficult to establish a balance between economic and political changes, because changes in one area affect changes in another. In the fourth part, titled IPE North and South (Chapters 15-17, Kukreja, S., DeHart, M., Kontogeorgopolous, N., Balaam, D. N, Veseth, M.), the key issues of the relations between industrialized countries and less developed countries are discussed. Therefore, Balaam, D. N. and Veseth, M. put transnational corporations, in the first plan because of their being growth drivers for a less developed country, and for others, giant business organizations dominating production around the world and representing a way of exploiting cheap labor and natural resources in less developed countries. It is pointed out that transnational corporations do not invest exclusively in less developed countries, considering that their branch offices are mostly located in highly developed countries. The purpose of considering the locations of the business and economic power of transnational corporations is, among the rest, the consideration of foreign direct investment flows, supported by transnational corporations In the final part Global Problems (Chapters 18-21), Dillman, B, Balaam, D. N. and Veseth, M. point out that many problems are increasingly beyond the international frameworks, and by their nature are becoming global. It indicates that the international flows of goods, services and people taking place in an illegal way, the growing problems of poverty, the uncontrolled depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution, are the main problems of the modern world. For them to resolve, it is necessary that an organized action be taken, from local authorities (cities and municipalities) to the state and international organizations and institutions. The IPE subject ma#er issue is a complex and diverse one, presenting a necessary multi-disciplinary approach of studying international and global issues. An integrated analysis using the methods of political science, economy and sociology is required. This synthesis is, among the rest, also desirable for the propensity of individual disciplines to focus only on certain elements of the complex problems of the modern world. The concept of IPE, in which complementary politics, economy and sociology permeate one another, it is crucially important for the expansion of the knowledge of a broader scientific and professional community. The book refers to a deep reflection of the key economic, political and sociological issues of today s modern society. Through a comprehensive analysis of a number of theories, the authors discuss the current problems the economies of today s modern society are being faced with. In principle, it is becoming increasingly clearer that the one-sidedness in analyzing the

3 M. Grbic, Book review: Introduction to international political economy 139 relationship between the state and the market, both domestic and international, on the one hand, as well as politics and economics, on the other, does not provide a valid response to a wide range of issues of the modern world. A complex approach is required in the analysis of numerous problems which today s modern society is being faced with, which IPE exactly provides. The significance of the book Introduction to International Political Economy is multiple. First of all, the book provides the reader with fundamental knowledge necessary for a more objective understanding of the function of the modern world. Additionally, apart from the theoretical aspects of their research, the authors also indicate those aspects practical significance. Indicating the need for critical and creative thinking as the key approach in modern science is one of the most important a#itudes the authors are supportive of in the book. Received 13 July 2012, after one revision, accepted for publication 17 July 2012 Milka Grbic is an Assistant at the Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac, Serbia. She is a Ph.D. student at the Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac. She examines the relevant issues of the economic policy and financial markets.

4 Ekonomski horizonti, Maj - Avgust 2012, Godište XIV, Sveska 2, Ekonomski fakultet Univerziteta u Kragujevcu UDC: 33 ISSN: X www. ekfak.kg.ac.rs Prikaz knjige UDK: (049.32) doi: /ekonhor G INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY Balaam, D. N., & Veseth, M. (Eds.). (2008). New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN , XVIII+509 Milka Grbić* Ekonomski fakultet Univerziteta u Kragujevcu U knjizi pod naslovom Introduction to International Political Economy, koju su priredili Balaam, D. N. i Veseth, M., grupa autora, na sveobuhvatan način, analizira brojna složena pitanja međunarodne i globalne ekonomije. Knjiga je strukturirana u pet delova koji predstavljaju zaokruženu celinu kako sa teorijskog, tako i sa praktičnog stanovišta. U prvom delu knjige pod naslovom Pogledi Međunarodne Političke Ekonomije (MPE), (Poglavlja 1-5), Balaam, D. N. i Veseth, M. izlažu ključne konceptualne postavke MPE. Naglasak se stavlja na teorijske koncepte neophodne za razmatranje i razumevanje pitanja i problema u okviru MPE, kao što su: merkantilizam, liberalizam i strukturalizam. Navedeni pristupi omogućili su autorima razmatranje mogućih pravilnosti nastajanja i razvoja kompleksnih ekonomskih pojava, koje proučava MPE. U fokusu su različiti akteri (pojedinci, klase, države) i njihov odnos prema tržištu, različitim ekonomskim aktivnostima i alternativnim strukturama društva. Pri tome, naglašavaju se različite vrednosti, kao što su moć i bogatstvo nacije, ekonomske slobode, a u cilju formulisanja jedinstvenog stava o mogućnostima rešavanja problema uzrokovanih društveno-ekonomskim i političkim krizama. * Korespondencija: M. Grbiić, Ekonomski fakultet Univerziteta u Kragujevcu, Đ. Pucara 3, Kragujevac, Srbija; mgrbic@kg.ac.rs Predmet proučavanja u drugom delu knjige, pod naslovom Strukture u MPE: proizvodnja, finansije, bezbednost i znanje, (Poglavlja 6-10, autori: Balaam, D. N., Veseth, M., Singleton, R.), su dogovori, sporazumi, institucije i drugi odnosi koji povezuju ljude na različite načine. Ukazuje se na međunarodnu trgovinu kao središnu temu o kojoj se raspravlja u MPE. Rast međunarodne trgovine odraz je rastuće globalizacije i liberalizacije kretanja roba, usluga, rada i kapitala. Povezujući zemlje, trgovina utiče na stvaranje značajne ekonomske, političke i društvene međuzavisnosti. Međutim, ovaj proces rezultira i stvaranjem tenzija i sukoba između zemalja. Naime, dok za većinu zemalja trgovina predstavlja način generisanja prihoda, otvaranja novih radnih mesta i prisvajanja rastućih profita, dotle je za zemlje u razvoju trgovina, često, kritična komponenta njihovih razvojnih planova, pre svega, zbog niske konkurentnosti. Pri tome su države primorane, više nego ikada, da regulišu trgovinu kako bi ograničile i povećale koristi. U trećem delu knjige pod naslovom Tenzije između države i tržišta danas (Poglavlja 11-14, autori: Balaam, D. N., Veseth, M., O Neil, P. H., Dillman, B.) razmatra se problematika relevantna za zemlje u razvoju. Ukazuje se na fundamentalne probleme između ekonomije i politike, koji se pojavljuju u procesu integracije. Na bazi analize ključnih pitanja Evropske unije, Balaam, D. N.

5 134 Ekonomski horizonti (2012) 14(2), i Veseth, M. naglašavaju da je regionalizam jedan od najvažnijih političkih i ekonomskih trendova. Prisutno je sve snažnije regionalno ekonomsko integrisanje, pa dolazi do uspona regionalnih trgovinskih blokova. Ukazuje se da je ekonomska integracija pretpostavka veće efikasnosti korišćenja ograničenih resursa i veće stope ekonomskog rasta. Međutim, integrisana tržišta ne znače nužno i integrisane države. Dok određene države, pre svega, visoko razvijene, smatraju da im integracija donosi prednosti, druge se drže nacionalnog ekonomskog prostora u kome brane svoje stečene pozicije. To ukazuje na specifičnost uslova stvaranja različitih oblika regionalne saradnje i integracije i na kompleksnost procesa formiranja regionalnih entiteta. Osnovna ideja je traženje odgovora na pitanje - da li je ekonomija važnija od politike - koje je i na početku XXI veka još uvek bez odgovora. U Poglavlju 13, pod naslovom Države i tržišta u tranziciji (O Neil, P.H.), navodi se da je transformacija političkog i ekonomskog sistema bila jedan od najvećih izazova za socijalističke zemlje. Transformacija socijalističkog sistema podrazumeva izgradnju novih političkih i ekonomskih institucija, pre svega, promenu pravnog poretka, privatizaciju državne svojine i stvaranje tržišta, na kome se cene faktora proizvodnje, dobara i usluga slobodno formiraju. Uspešnost reformi različita je od zemlje do zemlje. Autor ističe da se Poljska, Mađarska i Republika Češka često navode kao primeri uspešne tranzicije, pa se pridruživanje ovih zemalja Evropskoj uniji smatra priznavanjem njihovog napretka u političkom i ekonomskom smislu. Autor ukazuje na to da je teško uspostaviti ravnotežu između ekonomskih i političkih promena, jer promene u jednoj oblasti utiču na promene u drugoj. U četvrtom delu naslovljenom MPE Severa i Juga (Poglavlja 15-17, Kukreja, S., DeHart, M., Kontogeorgopolous, N., Balaam, D. N., Veseth, M.), razmatraju se ključna pitanja odnosa između industrijalizovanih i manje razvijenih zemalja. Pri tome, Balaam, D. N. i Veseth, M. u prvi plan stavljaju transnacionalne korporacije, koje su za jedne pokretači rasta manje razvijenih zemalja, a za druge, gigantske poslovne organizacije koje dominiraju u proizvodnji širom sveta i predstavljaju način eksploatacije je'ine radne snage i prirodnih resursa u manje razvijenim zemljama. Ističe se da transnacionalne korporacije ne investiraju isključivo u manje razvijene zemlje, s obzirom da su njihove filijale najčešće locirane u visokorazvijenim zemljama. Svrha razmatranja lokacije poslovanja i ekonomske moći transnacionalnih korporacija je, između ostalog, sagledavanje tokova stranih direktnih investicija, čiji su nosioci transnacionalne korporacije. U završnom delu - Globalni problemi (Poglavlja 18-21), Dillman, B., Balaam, D. N. i Veseth, M. naglašavaju da mnogi problemi sve više prevazilaze međunarodne okvire, i po svom karakteru postaju globalni. Ukazuje se na to da međunarodni tokovi dobara, usluga i ljudi koji se odvijaju na nelegalan način, sve izraženiji problemi siromaštva, nekontrolisano iscrpljivanje prirodnih resursa i zagađivanje životne sredine predstavljaju ključne probleme savremenog sveta. Za njihovo uspešno rešavanje neophodno je organizovanije delovanje, počev od lokalnih organa vlasti (gradovi i opštine), do državnih i međunarodnih organizacija i institucija. Problematika koja je predmet MPE je kompleksna i raznovrsna, usled čega je neophodan multidisciplinarni pristup u izučavanju međunarodnih i globalnih problema. Potrebna je integrisana analiza koja koristi metode političkih nauka, ekonomije, sociologije. Ova sinteza je poželjna, između ostalog, i zbog sklonosti pojedinih naučnih disciplina da se fokusiraju samo na određene elemente složenih problema savremenog sveta. Koncept MPE, u kojem se komplementarno prožimaju politika, ekonomija, sociologija, od presudne je vaznosti za proširenje znanja šire naučne i stručne javnosti. Knjiga upućuje na duboko promišljanje ključnih ekonomskih, političkih, socioloških pitanja modernog društva. Sveobuhvatnom analizom brojnih teorija, autori razmatraju aktuelne probleme koji stoje pred ekonomijama savremenog društva. Načelno, postaje sve jasnije da jednostranost u sagledavanju odnosa između države i tržišta, domaćeg i međunarodnog, kao i politike i ekonomije, ne omogućava valjan odgovor na širok spektar pitanja savremenog sveta. Neophodan je kompleksan pristup u analizi brojnih problema sa kojim se suočava savremeno društvo, što upravo omogućava MPE. Značaj knjige Introduction to International Political Economy je višestruk. Pre svega, knjiga pruža

6 M. Grbić, Prikaz knjige: Introduction to International Political Economy 135 fundamentalna znanja neophodna za objektivnije razumevanje funkcionisanja savremenog sveta. Pored toga, autori, uz teorijski aspekt istraživanja, ukazuju i na njihov praktični značaj. Isticanje kritičkog i kreativnog razmišljanja, kao ključnog pristupa u savremenoj nauci, predstavlja jedan od značajnijih stavova koji autori u knjizi zastupaju. Primljeno 13. jula 2012, nakon revizije, prihvaćeno za publikovanje 17. jula Milka Grbić je asistent na Ekonomskom fakultetu Univerziteta u Kragujevcu, na nastavnom predmetu Osnovi ekonomije. Student je doktorskih studija na Ekonomskom fakultetu Univerziteta u Kragujevcu. Bavi se izučavanjem relevantnih pitanja ekonomske politike i finansijskih tržišta.