The name of the Section of IR Political Economy originates with a subfield of the science of international relations with the same name. The scholar who introduced this term to the academic language was Robert Gilpin, in the paper  Political Economy of International Relations published in 1987. However, the real precursor of this discipline was the British scholar Susan Strange, who, in an article of 1970, highlighted the explanatory harmfulness of analysing political and economic phenomena independently from each other. Political economy of international relations can be described as an approach aspiring to be a comprehensive presentation in research and didactical terms of the essence of international relations through equal considering of the influence of the two key variables (spheres) determining their essence – that is economy and politics.

The mission of the Section of IR Political Economy consists in studying the interrelations between the phenomena and processes described as political and economic in international relations. This is based on the assumption that states, as the most important entities in the relations with other states, focus on the accomplishment of two strategic existential goals: power and influence (political aspect), as well as wealth (economic aspect). These goals are equally important and mutually conditioning. In our opinion, this approach allows for a fuller and more adequate examination of the essence of international relations through the analysis of the two major causative powers in the international relations of the early globalization phase, that is the state (the sphere of politics) and the market (the sphere of economy).

The Section’s research activity follows the two abovementioned principles of studying international relations. The most representative example in this regard – or even a scientific manifesto – is the joint publication compiled by the employees of the Section and entitled: Geoekonomia (‘Geoeconomy’), Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Scholar, 2012, published under a research grant of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. In 2012, another publication is scheduled for publication, under the title Mocarstwa ekonomiczne (‘Economic Superpowers’).

The Section’s employees study various aspects of the relations between politics and economy in international relations. The most important of these aspects are:
1. A. Jarczewska, PhD, Trade policy of the USA
2. A. Wróbel, PhD, Trade policy of the EU
3. K. Jędrzejowska, PhD, International architecture of finance
4. J. Nakonieczna, PhD, Alter-globalization
5. A. Łukaszewicz, PhD, Financial centres in the Arabian Gulf
6. R. Ulatowski, PhD, Geoeconomy of natural resources
7. S. Para, MA, The G-20
8. B. Regulska, MA, Exports policy of the USA
9. Ł. Gołota, MA, J. Mill’s utilitarianism and the WTO’s trade negotiations.

In didactical terms, the Section is responsible for the specialization ‘International Trade Policy’. The Section’s employees hold the following courses in first degree, second degree and third degree studies:

First degree studies: Economy, International Economic Relations, Economic Geography, Economic Policy, International Finance, History of Political and Economic Thought.

Second degree studies: International Trade System, Trade Policy of the USA, Trade Policy of the EU, International Environmental Protection, Economic Security, International Economic Transactions, Analysis of the Financial and Monetary Market, Strategies of International Enterprises, Introduction to International Business, Cultural Determinants of Business

Third level studies: Political Economy of International Relations, Methodology of the Study of International Relations

Chairman – prof. Edward Haliżak