Description
Content: This course will examine how norms, rules and international organizations at the regional and supranational level affect relations between states, contacts across state borders, and global governance , and vice-versa. In particular, it will explore why and how states and other transnational actors seek to organize world politics, under what conditions particular forms of international organization (formal and informal) are most likely to emerge, and how international organization affects the preferences and behavior of states and the management of economic, security, humanitarian and environmental challenges.
Course Objectives
Objective 1: To deepen students’ understanding of the sources, the effects, and the limitations of international organization in contemporary world politics, including both formal organizations like the United Nations and informal norms, rules and decision-making procedures in various regions and issue-areas.
Objective 2: To increase students’ readiness for careers in research, advocacy or policy-making on topics related to international organization and global governance.
Methods of instruction and communication
Class sessions will involve lecture, plenary discussions and small group exercises. Students are expected to complete assigned readings and submit written assignments by the deadlines and to make informed contributions to discussion.
Blackboard is the principal means of e-communication in this course, so all students are expected to sign up for the BB site for this course before the first session and to ensure that their BB account is linked to an email address that they check daily.
Study material
Readings will be drawn from scholarly books and journal articles, most of which are available via the university library or the internet.
Timetable
Assessment method
Grades will be based upon two essays based on assigned readings (45% each) plus participation in seminar discussion (10%).
Admission requirements
This course is open only to students enrolled in the ‘international organization’ specialization within the MSc Political Science program.
Participation is open for students that started their Master in September. Students can take this course only once in their academic year.
Registration
See preliminary info