Admission requirements
Only students of the Advanced MSc International Relations and Diplomacy programme can take this course.
Description
This course familiarises students with the ways in which the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) operate and interact. It discusses how the EU acts within the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Students also learn how the EU cooperates with individual UN agencies, including UNHCR and UNICEF. Based on a simulation game focused on the migrant crisis and a visit to EU institutions and UN representations in Brussels, students gain ‘hands-on’ experience as regards the ways in which these institutions operate and interact in practice.
Course objectives
The course aims to familiarise students with the ways in which a regional organisation (the EU) interacts with the UN as an international organisation. Students learn about the modes of operation of both the EU and the UN and the ways in which these organisations interact in structural ways, but also in daily practice. Based on a simulation game, the students learn about the challenges the EU faces to develop a common position and to defend it in front of the UN General Assembly. Students will also learn from active participation in a panel session in which a salient topic facing both the EU and the UN will be addressed.
Timetable
On the right-hand side of the programme front page of the studyguide you will find a link to the online timetables.
This course will also include a one-day simulation game and an excursion to EU institutions in Brussels.
Mode of instruction
The course will consist of short lectures, discussion, a simulation game, student panel discussions and an excursion to Brussels (with visits to EU institutions).
Study load: 140 hours
Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory, subject to course structure (see syllabus for details).
Assessment method
Class participation (10%)
Position paper for the simulation game (20%)
Participation in roundtable debate (30%)
Final paper (40%)
Failed partial grades or components should be compensated by passed partial grades or components. The calculated grade must be at least 5.50 to pass the course. It is not possible to re-sit a partial grade or component once you have passed the course.
Passed partial grades obtained in the academic year 2023-2024 remain valid during the academic year 2024-2025.
Passed partial grades obtained in the academic year 2024-2025 remain valid during the academic year 2025-2026.
Should a student fail the overall course, the student can complete the course in the second year of the programme.
Reading list
For this seminar, we study recent literature on the EU and the UN, including some of its agencies (e.g., UNHCR, UNICEF). Core to the topics studied are recent UN and EU documents, recent manuscripts and journal articles.
Registration
The programme will register the students on Usis based on the group division. Use Brightspace for course information.
Contact
Prof. Dr. Madeleine Hosli m.o.hosli@fgga.leidenuniv.nl