14494 - The Political Economy of Transformation Modulübersicht

Module Number: 14494
Module Title:The Political Economy of Transformation
  Die politische Ökonomie der Transformation
Department: Faculty 5 - Business, Law and Social Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr. rer. pol. habil. Berger, Wolfram
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: On special announcement
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:By the end of the semester, students will have a solid understanding of theoretical concepts tied to a critical political economy perspective. They will be able to apply these theoretical perspectives for analysing concrete empirical contexts. They will have skills for critical reflection and will be able to navigate and process complex conceptual texts. Students have inter- and transdisciplinary research competencies.
Contents:To deal with the major challenges our societies are facing – such as the climate crisis, demographic change, geopolitical tension as well as regional and global economic restructurings – we need a profound understanding of their underlying social conditions. This interdisciplinary course offers an introduction to critical political economy approaches that examine these issues through the lenses of power, social relations, and uneven development.
We begin with discussing core concepts through which critical political economists seeks to understand how capitalist economies function and how their contradictions emerge. We then turn to the institutional arrangements that shape and mediate economic life — such as states, legal systems, and international governance — examining their roles not as neutral arbiters but as embedded in social struggles and historical formations.
Building on this, we explore the concepts of power and hegemony. Drawing on theorists such as Antonio Gramsci and perspectives from Cultural Political Economy, we analyse how dominant economic and political ideas as well as practices become socialised, and how they are contested. Finally, the course investigates the spatial dimension of capitalism: we study how space is not merely a backdrop but actively produced through processes of uneven development, globalisation, and territorial differentiation.
Throughout the course, we will engage with both classical texts and contemporary applications, and reflect critically on the relevance of critical political economy approaches for understanding today’s transformations. Students are encouraged to bring in their own interests and regional expertise, and to relate theoretical insights to empirical phenomena across scales.
Recommended Prerequisites:None
Mandatory Prerequisites:None
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Seminar / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 150 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:
  • Gramsci, A., 2011. Prison notebooks. Vol. 1. Columbia Univ. Press.
  • Harvey, D., 2019. Spaces of Global Capitalism: A Theory of Uneven Geographical Development. Verso.
  • Massey, D.B., 1984. Spatial Divisions of Labour. Macmillan.
  • Moisio, S. (2018). Geopolitics of the knowledge-based economy. Routledge.
  • Sum, N.-L., & Jessop, B. (2013). Towards a cultural political economy: Putting culture in its place in political economy. Edward Elgar Pub. Ltd.
  • Vidal, M., Smith, T., Rotta, T., Prew, P. (Eds.), 2019. The Oxford Handbook of Karl Marx, 1st ed. Oxford University Press.
Module Examination:Continuous Assessment (MCA)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:
  • Präsentation: 15 min (50 %)
  • Hausarbeit: 6.000 Wörter (50 %)
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:20
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Master (research-oriented) / Angewandte Mathematik / PO 2019 - 1. SÄ 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Angewandte Naturwissenschaften / PO 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Angewandte Naturwissenschaften - dual / PO 2025
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Double Degree / Architektur / PO 2014 - 1. SÄ 2016
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Architektur / PO 2022
  • Master (research-oriented) / Artificial Intelligence / PO 2022 - 1. SÄ 2024
  • Master (research-oriented) / Bauen und Erhalten / PO 2007
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Extended Semester / Bauingenieurwesen / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Bauingenieurwesen / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Bauingenieurwesen / PO 2022 - 1. SÄ 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Extended Semester / Bauingenieurwesen / PO 2022 - 1. SÄ 2023
  • Master (research-oriented) / Bauingenieurwesen / PO 2014
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Bauingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Bauingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2022 - 1. SÄ 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Bauingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2022 - 1. SÄ 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Bau- und Kunstgeschichte / PO 2022
  • Master (research-oriented) / Bau- und Kunstgeschichte / PO 2025
  • Bachelor (applied) / Betriebswirtschaftslehre / PO 2017 - 1. SÄ 2019
  • Master (research-oriented) / Betriebswirtschaftslehre / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Betriebswirtschaftslehre - dual / PO 2019
  • Bachelor (applied) / Biotechnologie / PO 2018 - 2. SÄ 2024
  • Master (applied) / Biotechnology / PO 2018
  • Master (applied) - Extended Semester / Biotechnology / PO 2018
  • Master (research-oriented) / Chemistry: Materials, Engineering and Sustainability / PO 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) / Cyber Security / PO 2017 - 1. SÄ 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Digitale Gesellschaft / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / eBusiness / PO 2007
  • Master (research-oriented) / eBusiness / PO 2007 - 2. SÄ 2012
  • Bachelor (applied) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2018 - 2. SÄ 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2019 - 1. SÄ 2020
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2022
  • Master (applied) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2018 - 1. SÄ 2022
  • Master (applied) - Extended Semester / Elektrotechnik / PO 2018 - 1. SÄ 2022
  • Master (research-oriented) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2019 - 1. SÄ 2020
  • Master (research-oriented) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Elektrotechnik - dual / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Elektrotechnik - dual / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Energietechnik und Energiewirtschaft / PO 2021 - 1. SÄ 2024
  • Master (research-oriented) / Energietechnik und Energiewirtschaft / PO 2021 - 1. SÄ 2024
  • Master (research-oriented) - Double Degree / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Hebammenwissenschaft / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Hybrid Electric Propulsion Technology / PO 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Informatik / PO 2008 - 2. SÄ 2024
  • Master (research-oriented) / Informatik / PO 2008 - 3. SÄ 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Informations- und Medientechnik / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (applied) / Instrumental- und Gesangspädagogik / PO 2019 - 2. SÄ 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Instrumental- und Gesangspädagogik / - 2. SÄ 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Instrumental- und Gesangspädagogik - dual /
  • Master (research-oriented) / Klimagerechtes Bauen und Betreiben / PO 2018 - 1. SÄ 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Kultur und Technik / PO 2017
  • Master (research-oriented) / Kultur und Technik / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Künstliche Intelligenz / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Künstliche Intelligenz Technologie / PO 2022
  • Master (research-oriented) / Künstliche Intelligenz Technologie / PO 2022 - 1. SÄ 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Landnutzung und Wasserbewirtschaftung / PO 2017
  • Master (research-oriented) / Landnutzung und Wasserbewirtschaftung / PO 2018
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Deutsch-Englisch / PO 2025
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Deutsch-Kunst / PO 2025
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Deutsch-Musik / PO 2025
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Deutsch-Sachunterricht Gesellschaftswissenschaften / PO 2025
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Deutsch-Sport / PO 2025
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Mathematik-Deutsch / PO 2025
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Mathematik-Englisch / PO 2025
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Mathematik-Kunst / PO 2025
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Mathematik-Musik / PO 2025
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Mathematik-Sachunterricht Naturwissenschaften / PO 2025
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe Mathematik-Sport / PO 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) / Leichtbau und Werkstofftechnologie / PO 2023
  • Master (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Place / Leichtbau und Werkstofftechnologie - dual / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Life Science and International Health / PO 2025
  • Bachelor (applied) / Maschinenbau / PO 2018 - 1. SÄ 2019
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Maschinenbau / PO 2006 - 2. SÄ 2008
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Maschinenbau / PO 2021
  • Master (applied) / Maschinenbau / PO 2018 - 1. SÄ 2021
  • Master (applied) - Extended Semester / Maschinenbau / PO 2018 - 1. SÄ 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Maschinenbau / PO 2006 - 2. SÄ 2012
  • Master (research-oriented) / Maschinenbau / PO 2023
  • Master (research-oriented) - Reduced Semester / Maschinenbau / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Maschinenbau - dual / PO 2018 - 1. SÄ 2019
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Maschinenbau - dual / PO 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Maschinenbau - dual / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Place / Maschinenbau - dual / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Materialchemie / PO 2018
  • Master (research-oriented) / Materialchemie / PO 2018
  • Master (research-oriented) / Mathematical Data Science / PO 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) / Mathematics / PO 2025
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Mathematik / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Mathematik - dual / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Medizininformatik / PO 2016 - 1. SÄ 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Medizintechnik / PO 2022 - 2. SÄ 2025
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Medizintechnik - dual / PO 2022 - 2. SÄ 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) / Micro- and Nanoelectronics / PO 2024
  • Bachelor (applied) / Pflegewissenschaft / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (applied) / Pflegewissenschaft / PO 2020
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Pflegewissenschaft / PO 2020
  • Bachelor (applied) / Pflegewissenschaft / PO 2025
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Pflegewissenschaft / PO 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) / Physics / PO 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Physik / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Physik / PO 2018 - 1. SÄ 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Power Engineering / PO 2016 - 1. SÄ 2023
  • Bachelor (applied) / Soziale Arbeit / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (applied) / Soziale Arbeit / PO 2020 - 1. SÄ 2021
  • Bachelor (applied) - Double Degree / Soziale Arbeit / PO 2020 - 1. SÄ 2021
  • Master (applied) / Soziale Arbeit / PO 2020 - 1. SÄ 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Städtebau und Stadtplanung / PO 2019
  • Master (research-oriented) / Stadtplanung / PO 2019
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Stadtplanung und Städtebau / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Stadt- und Regionalplanung / PO 2016
  • Master (research-oriented) / Stadt- und Regionalplanung / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (applied) / Therapiewissenschaften / PO 2017
  • Master (research-oriented) / Transformation Studies / PO 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Umweltingenieurwesen / PO 2006 - 3. SÄ 2018
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Umweltingenieurwesen / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Umweltingenieurwesen / PO 2012 - 2. SÄ 2018
  • Master (research-oriented) / Umweltingenieurwesen / PO 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Umweltwissenschaften / PO 2025
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Umweltwissenschaften - dual / PO 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) / Urban Design and Sustainable Revitalization / PO 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Wirtschaftsinformatik / PO 2024
  • Bachelor (applied) / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2018 - 2. SÄ 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2008
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2019
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2023
  • Master (applied) / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2018 - 1. SÄ 2023
  • Master (applied) - Extended Semester / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2018 - 1. SÄ 2023
  • Master (research-oriented) / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2019
  • Master (research-oriented) / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) - Reduced Semester / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2025
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2018 - 2. SÄ 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2023
  • Master (research-oriented) - Reduced Semester / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2025
  • Master (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Place / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2025
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Wirtschaftsmathematik / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Wirtschaftsmathematik - dual / PO 2023
 This module has been approved for the general studies.
Remarks:

Module with limited number of participants - Registration two weeks prior to the commencement of lectures!

Module Components:
  • Seminar (2 SWS)
Components to be offered in the Current Semester: