Course Title: Geopolitics and Global Business Practice
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Geopolitics and Global Business Practice
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Coordinator: Dr Shuang Li
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 4033
Course Coordinator Email: shuang.li@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 80.09
Course Coordinator Availability: via email
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
To successfully complete this course, students should possess foundational knowledge of international business concepts, including foreign direct investment, the internationalisation process, and multinational enterprises (MNEs). While not required, a passion for geopolitics and international relations, coupled with an ambition to become future leaders in international business practice, will enhance students’ engagement and enjoyment of the course.
Course Description
This course explores the interplay between geopolitics and multinational enterprises (MNEs). You will examine the nature of geopolitics, its influence on MNE strategies, methods to manage geopolitical impacts, MNEs’ effects on geopolitics, and emerging trends. A foundational grasp of geopolitics enables critical analysis of the global political landscape MNEs navigate. Then you will investigate geopolitics’ coevolution with MNE practices, starting with its traditional impact on business, and then advancing to contemporary risk management strategies and cutting-edge topics like MNEs’ geopolitical influence. Through this, you will gain theoretical and practical tools to address the geopolitics-MNE dynamics—vital in today’s geopolitically charged environment. Learning activities of this course foster an open, cooperative, inquiry based, and tech-savvy co-learning environment, preparing you to become MNE, government, and international leaders for global challenges over the next 10-20 years.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
-
For classes beginning prior to 2 March 2026
On successful completion of this course you will be able to:
CLO1. Articulate and apply the core concepts and theories in the political economy of global business.
CLO2. Integrate the key historical developments in international political economy so as to contextualise and respond to current issues and problems in global business.
CLO3. Critically analyse and synthesise your conceptual knowledge of how global business and organisations impact on politics, culture and economics.
CLO4. Develop independent and critical research skills to synthesise theoretical and empirical data relating to the real-world issues of international political economy and the role of global business therein.
CLO5. Effectively collaborate with peers while addressing key questions relating to the political economy of global business.
CLO6. Communicate and present business data and concepts of international political economy in different professional formats.For classes beginning on or after 2 March 2026
On successful completion of this course you will be able to:
CLO 1: Evaluate and apply key concepts and theories related to the interplay between geopolitics and multinational enterprises.
CLO 2: Assess the current geopolitical environment and analyse its implications for MNEs.
CLO 3: Appraise the strategies for managing the impact of geopolitics on MNEs and justify how to use these strategies effectively.
CLO 4: Discuss the influence of MNE practices on geopolitical dynamics.
CLO 5: Initiate appropriate methods to communicate complex data, findings, theories, and business decisions related to geopolitics and MNEs clearly and concisely.Overview of Learning Activities
You will be encouraged to act as an active learner and engage in a variety of learning activities including, but not limited to: reading; watching multi-media materials; discussing/debating ideas; analysing case studies; conducting research; problem solving; working in a team; giving presentations; and reflecting on your own learning.
This course is offered at multiple locations employing different learning modes. This means that the nature of the learning activities may vary depending on where you are enrolled. You may participate in face to face lectures, workshops, seminars, online discussions and collaborative activities.
To develop and test your professional problem solving capability you will be undertaking projects negotiated with industry or community organisations and benefit from representatives’ briefing and feedback on your work.
Overview of Learning Resources
Various learning resources are available online through MyRMIT Studies\Canvas. The lecture notes and workshop notes are posted on Canvas.
Resources are also available online through RMIT Library databases and other facilities. Visit the RMIT library website for further details. Assistance is available online via our chat and email services, face to face at our campus libraries or via the telephone on (03) 9925 2020.
Additional resources and/or sources to assist your learning will be identified by your course coordinator and will be made available to you as required during the teaching period.
Overview of Assessment
The table below aligns the assessment tasks against the learning outcomes.
For classes beginning prior to 2 March 2026
Assessment Task 1: 30% Linked CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4
Assessment Task 2: 40% Linked CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4
Assessment Task 3: 30% Linked CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
For classes beginning on or after 2 March 2026
Assessment Task 1: 30% Linked CLOs 1, 2, 5
Assessment Task 2: 40% Linked CLOs 1, 2, 3, 5
Assessment Task 3: 30% Linked CLOs 3, 4, 5