Current Issues of International Relations and Organizations
This course deepens the understanding of main topical questions on the agenda of the UN, NATO, the EUs external relations or other regional organizations. The focus is on the maintenance of peace, basic human rights and socio-economic development, particularly the Millennium development goals.
This course is limited to 20 master students who have completed the course Introduction to International Relations and Organizations, or a similar introduction to international relations, international politics or international organizations.
Course objectives
Students become able to assess independently several main policy issues concerning security, human rights and development, write analyses of peace operations and developments concerning towards basic human needs and rights. They are able to present such issues in clear and brief oral presentations to the class audience.
Timetable
Lectures: Monday 4/2/2013 t/m 18/3/2013 from 11-13 hrs in CDH-Schouwburgstraat room A0.01. No lecture on 18/3, this will be on Wednesday 13/3 from 9-11 hrs in A0.01
Exam: Monday 25-3-2013 11:00 13:00 CDH-Stichthage room Bezuidenhout
Re-exam: Monday 10-6-2013 11:00 13:00 CDH-Schouw A0.01
Mode of instruction
Lectures, guest lectures, student presentations, class discussions, and independent research for term papers. The research question for each individual student is chosen from the list below. Term papers are in English or Dutch.
Assessment
The end grade is the average of the grade for the oral presentation and the exam. The oral presentation is an initial summary of the term paper which is written during the course. The presentation is graded on being clearly understandable, well structured, good overview of main facts and developments, quality of answers to classroom questions to the presentation, and quality of conclusion with well-reasoned policy recommendations. The paper which is submitted at the end of the course will be graded on comparable criteria.
The exam has four questions from the textbook and one which tries to assess the ability to apply knowledge and reasoning to a hypothecial international question before the UN. Exam questions are answered in English or Dutch.
Reading list and Blackboard
- Weiss, Forsythe and Coate, The United Nations and Changing World Politics, Fourth or most recent edition, and materials handed out in class and/or put on Blackboard
Registration
Via USIS
Contact information
Prof Joris Voorhoeve by email or appointment.
Term paper subjects to be chosen by students:
- How to stabilize Afghanistan and reduce NATO’s role there?
- Can the UN stabilize and develop South Sudan?
- Might an independent Kashmir be possible?
- Can the UN bring peace to Syria?
- How can Libya be stabilized?
- Can the EU form a joint security policy?
- Can Serbia become a member of the EU?
- Can the UN help North-Korea to reform?
- How could Israel and Palestine join in a two-state solution?
- Could Turkey join the EU?
- Could Georgia become a member of NATO?
- How could Georgia get Abkhasia and South-Ossetia back from Russia?
- Is an independent Kurdistan possible?
- Does trade liberalization and globalization reduce poverty?
- How could the Millennium Goal of halving the number of people suffering from hunger be achieved?
- How could international assistance reduce high population growth in the poorest countries?
- How could a new treaty reduce global greenhouse gas emissions?
- Which are the main governance systems of humanitarian international non-governmental organizations?
- Can the results of development assistance be measured?
- How could the UN system of promoting human rights be improved?
- How can the International Criminal Court be made more effective?
- How can the UN implement treaties against corruption?
- How could the UN Security Council be made more effective?
- Other international questions after consultation of the teacher.