Global Political Economy

A Multi-paradigmatic Approach

This book applies a multiparadigmatic philosophical frame of analysis to the global political economy. Crossing two disciplines and lines of literature—social philosophy and global political economy—this book considers seven aspects of global political economy and discusses each aspect from four diverse paradigmatic viewpoints: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist. The four paradigms are founded upon different assumptions about the nature of social science and the nature of society. Each paradigm generates theories, concepts, and analytical tools which are different from those of other paradigms; developing an understanding of the different paradigms leads to a better understanding of the multi-faceted nature of the subject matter. In this book, the first chapter reviews the four paradigms. Each of the next seven chapters provides four paradigmatic explanations for each of the seven aspects of the global political economy. The final chapter concludes by recommending further paradigmatic diversity. This book will be of particular interest to students and researchers interested in political economy, heterodox economics, political science and international relations.