Political Economics

Politics and economics are unique disciplines in the sense that core concepts lack universally agreed upon definitions. Terms like left/right, markets, politics, socialism, and capitalism are widely discussed by scholars, politicians, and media without clear definitions. This ambiguity often leads to misunderstandings and opens the door to polarisation as well as manipulation within our society. Imagine if architects or construction workers had such confusion over key words in their fields —buildings would be collapsing everywhere.
Moreover, at most universities, economics students are taught from a single perspective: orthodox/neoclassical economics. They are rarely informed that this is just one among many schools of thought.

The field of political economy tries to address these aspects by recognizing the political nature of economics, and vice versa. It advocates for a holistic approach to theorize and define key concepts in politics and economics. It assumes the premise that politics and economics are deeply interconnected, and that understanding one of the fields can not effectively be done without understanding the other.

This course will explore political economy by examining its theoretical roots and emphasizing discussion-based learning. It offers a foundation in diverse economic theories and the origins of our political-economic system, with a focus on the contemporary housing crisis as an applied case study.
No prior knowledge is required for this course. The approach is open and inclusive, encouraging discussions, welcoming to all questions, embracing diverse opinions and a respectful acceptance of disagreements.

Topics:
What is ‘Political Economics’? We will discuss and clarify key definitions in political economics and their origins. How can politics and economics effectively be defined? How are they different and how are they connected? Students can expect to be provided with a base and common ground of vocabulary for discussing politics and economics effectively.

Different Economic Theories of Capitalism
An overview of major paradigms in economic thought: how does capitalism function, and what are its broad theoretical frameworks? Students will learn basic concepts and develop a „mindmap“ of economic belief systems.

The Origins of Capitalism.
We will go into detail on the origins of our economic system. When and how did it emerge? We will learn different perspectives on this historic transition and investigate definitions of different economic systems, such as capitalism, feudalism, and slave societies.

The Evolution of Modern Capitalism. How has our economic system changed over recent decades? We will here clarify what the literature refers to as different eras and types of capitalism.

Today’s Housing Crisis. Why is it so hard, particularly for young people, to find an affordable place to live these days? Students will review data on housing in Europe and engage in an evidence-based discussion about its role in contemporary capitalism.

Jonathan Sidenros

Jonathan is a 29 year old Swedish immigrant living in Berlin for the past years. Since early teenage years, he’s had a deep interest in politics. He has pursued this interest with a bachelor and masters degree in political science and political economics. The nature of his master’s degree, situated in the left-leaning field of ‚heterodox economics‘ also marks his political conviction, with major interests in understanding the nature of our economic systems and how they relate to inequality and economic freedom. He is also particularly interested in research related to our global housing crisis. Aside from academia, he has also been active in the last couple of years with the movement Diem25. Apart from the political realm, he also has an interest in electronic music and in producing music.

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