BMGT30330 Governing International Trade, Finance, Climate and the Internet

Academic Year 2022/2023

Regardless of business type, size or degree of internationalisation, strategic decisions and daily activities are impacted upon by the policies, treaties, regulations, norms and standards set by public, private and other forms of governing bodies. The globalization of commerce in goods and services through trade, foreign direct investment and outsourcing; facilitated by technological change and the liberalization of financial markets highlighted the challenges of single nation legal jurisdiction and political impartiality. Over several decades groups of nation states, business federations, private and public companies and non-governmental organizations have come together in a variety of forums to cooperate in the establishment and oversight of governance measures of varying legal form and none. Examples include
- multilateral, megaregional, regional and bilateral trade bodies - the World Trade Organisation, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the European Union, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, ASEAN and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA);
- international financial networks - the G groups (e.g. G20, G7) of finance ministers and central bank governors, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic, Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund and the Basel Committee on Banking and Regulation and Supervisory Practices;
- environmental/climate bodies - United Nations Environment Programme, Environmental Protection Agencies; and
- bodies addressing internet governance - International Telecommunications Union (ITU); along with
- sector specific bodies including, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), credit rating agencies, the Institute of International Finance, the International Accounting Standards Board, the International Chamber of Commerce, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
The structures, power and membership of these organisations and forums varies considerably; influenced by the policy area, membership (governments, business stakeholders, experts etc.), geographical spread, politics, and key events.

Notably over the last few years significant developments in policy approaches and negotiating styles of the United States, the United Kingdom and China are challenging the structures, principles and processes of the long established aforementioned public private and hybrid bodies of international governance at a time of heightened public awareness and stakeholder activity. Government statements and media headlines feature the details of tariffs and non tariff barriers to trade involving the United States, European Union, Asia and Africa; the emerging details the consequences of the the agreements reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom following Brexit, the stark findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2021 and 2022), the lack of consensus on the development of economic policy and associated oversight and the place of regulation over the digital world - commercial, social and financial.

The debate around the future forms of institutional structures and types of governance across trade, finance, climate and the internet predated the Covid 19 pandemic, but it is proving central to the management of the future economy and associated business activity nationally and globally. Most recently the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and uncertain economic times have further intensified the debate about the future of international governance. This module goes behind the headlines by reviewing the evolution of the public, private and hybrid governing institutions and debating their place at a time of critical change when the western world is being challenged from within and by north, south and east. For business stakeholders this period of uncertainty challenges established business models, practices, supply chains designed around globalisation and questions the suitability of strategic plans based on compliance with existing instruments of governance including treaties, standards, regulations and principles.

The module examines the governing institutions and the instruments of governance along with considering their future through four key topic areas
a. trade,
b. finance,
c. climate change and
d. the internet.







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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completing this module, participants will be expected to be able to


1. identify and describe key institutions and organisations responsible for the governance of various aspects of the international business environment with particular reference to policy areas of trade, finance, climate change and the internet;
2. distinguish and categorise the different types of governing institutions, organisations and forums e.g in respect to their structures, membership (public, private, hybrid), remit, decision making, power, relationships and geographical spread using methods of mapping governance and creating frameworks of analysis;
3. critically select from recommended and self researched primary, academic and complementary sources to support mapping of institutions and analysis;
4. research, prepare and write an academic essay critically assessing the interplay between institutional and business stakeholders in the governance of the international business environment in a specific policy area or interrelated areas (trade, finance, climate change or the internet) while world experiences developmental changes involving economic, political, social and commercial relationships.

Indicative Module Content:

The module examines the Governing of the International Business Environment in respect to trade, finance, climate and the internet by

i) reviewing the literature on the development of the international 'governance' (eg. types of institutions and associated treaties, regulations, standards, regulations, best practice) and the current academic means of analysis;

ii). identifying the different types of governing organisations, forums and networks (public, private and hybrid) noting their structures, membership, remits, decision making, powers and geographical spread;

iii). reviewing the structure and evolution of these key organisations and forums (public, private and hybrid) associated with the governance of a. trade, b. finance, c. climate change and d. the internet along with the forms of governance in light of challenging events; and

iv). analysing business stakeholders (companies, federations, networks etc.) involvement with governing bodies and the processes of governance (public, private and hybrid), from the nation state level through regional/megaregional to multilateral, in the design and implementation of the instruments of governance (treaties, principles, regulations and standards).

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Specified Learning Activities

61
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is delivered through blended learning - combining

i). Overview presentations and sources released in a staged approach over the semester through Brightspace, reflecting the module's parts addressing I. the key features of governance, types of institutions, academic mapping and frameworks of analysis along with an outline of assessment (Weeks 1 and 2), II. The institutions and bodies governing trade, finance, climate and the internet (Weeks 3 to 7) and III. Meeting the challenges of geopolitics, Covid 19 pandemic, , climate change disrupted business models through the design of governance institutions and measures (Weeks 8 to 12) and

ii). face to face sessions in the Quinn School as timetabled - these sessions will draw on the over presentations and sources/materials to develop illustrations and discussions which will facilitate progressive critical engagement with the subject matter and independent research in preparation for the assignments.

The module is organised through Brightspace with backup resources to facilitate students who may be unable to attend the sessions in the Quinn School or any changes in timetabled sessions which may occur over the semester

Details of all of the learning materials are provided through Brightspace for the UCD Library Online Resources (e-books and e-journals) and specified web links for primary (the key materials from institutional and business stakeholders) and complementary sources.

The design of the module and assessment, with the range of the recommended resources seeks to encourage and develop students' independent learning skills to critically research and select from an array of primary and interdisciplinary academic sources, and complementary topical sources to meet the modules learning outcomes through the engagement and assignments. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Critical application of framework to map governance with samples in two module topic areas.

Topic choices, guidelines and grading criteria will be provided		 Week 8 n/a Graded No

40
Essay: Final Academic Essay

Topic choices, guidelines and grading criteria will be provided.

Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

60

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Assessment Preparation Details of subject and title choices, guidelines and grading criteria for each assignment will be provided through lectures and Brightspace. Students are invited to consult with the module co-ordinator/teacher to discuss the specific assignment guidelines, choice of subject and/or title and general outline for the assignment. Assessment Feedback Assignment 1 - Application of frameworks/typologies of analysis i. Class feedback will be provided post assessment in lectures and via Brightspace; ii. Individual student feedback will be provided post assessment by the module coordinator/lecturer. Assignment 2 - Final Academic Essay i. Collective feedback will be provided via Brightspace on the release of the final grades. ii. Individual student feedback will be available on request from the module coordinator/lecturer on the release of the final grades.

Introductory Reading

Weiss, T. and Wilkinson, R. (2018) (Eds.) International Organisation and Global Governance. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.

This edited volume is available as an eBook through the UCD Library online facilities - enter the book title into OneSearch and click on Full Text Online.