Journal of Political Institutions and Political Economy > Vol 1 > Issue 3

Why Is Political Economy a Subfield in Comparative Politics and International Relations, but Not in American Politics? Lessons from the Past, Prescriptions for the Future

George A. Krause, University of Georgia, USA, gkrause@uga.edu
 
Suggested Citation
George A. Krause (2020), "Why Is Political Economy a Subfield in Comparative Politics and International Relations, but Not in American Politics? Lessons from the Past, Prescriptions for the Future", Journal of Political Institutions and Political Economy: Vol. 1: No. 3, pp 449-475. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/113.00000015

Publication Date: 24 Aug 2020
© 2020 G. A. Krause
 
Subjects
Political Economy,  Political Organizations,  Comparative Political Economy,  International Political Economy
 
Keywords
American politicspolitical economyinstitutional development of scholarly research fields
 

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In this article:
Defining Varieties of Political Economy 
Path Dependence and the Modern Emergence of American Politics as a Field 
Can APE Become a Viable Subfield Within Political Science? 
Looking into the Future: A Non-Panglossian Perspective 
References 

Abstract

This paper grapples with a complex and multifaceted issue. It seeks to understand why political economy has not been established as an institutionalized subfield in the field of American politics within the political science discipline. Establishing American political economy (APE) as a viable subfield is made extremely difficult, given the structural obstacles impeding both the development and maintenance of this subfield within American politics, as well as how the broader field of political economy has been defined in both comparative politics and international relations. In turn, this dilemma is of a reinforcing path-dependent nature that fosters incentives for scholars (and their research) to be housed within existing institutionalized subfields of American politics that are not compatible with the broader political economy field within the political science discipline. Recommendations are put forth, suggesting a path forward to create conditions that are conducive toward developing an institutionalized APE subfield that complements the field of American politics, while being compatible with the dominant subfield groups within the political economy field comprised of both comparative politics and international relations.

DOI:10.1561/113.00000015

Companion

Journal of Political Institutions and Political Economy, Volume 1, Issue 3 Special issue - Frontiers in Political Economy
See the other articles that are part of this special issue.