Description
The hallmark of international administrations – whether they are intergovernmental organizations, networks, multinational corporations or civil society groups – is diversity. International administrations bring together people from different countries, with different ethnic, cultural and educational backgrounds. And they forge linkages between organizations rooted in different legal, political and administrative systems. How international administrations manage this diversity is the basic question posed in this course.
The course approaches the question from two angles. First, it looks at the internal management of international organizations. Central topics here are how international organizations recruit officials, how they manage and lead their staff, how they attain and use knowledge, and how they establish and maintain legitimacy in world politics. Second, the course examines how international organizations manage external networks and interdependencies, such as within transnational networks of regulatory agencies.
The course combines the discussion of central issues in international administration with discussion of a number of real-world cases, ranging from the recruitment system of the European Commission to the politics of expertise within the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Course objectives
By the end of the course, students will have:
1. Knowledge and understanding of key theories and concepts relating to the management of international organizations and networks.
2. Advanced knowledge and understanding of the distinctive nature and challenges of governance and management in an international and multi-level setting.
3. Ability to identify and apply relevant theories to analyze real-world cases within international administrations.
4. Ability to prescribe solutions to management problems in international administrative contexts based on in-depth organizational analysis.
5. Ability to present results of research and case analyses to managers and relevant policy-makers.
6. Awareness of the challenges of working in a multinational environment, including in leadership positions.
Timetable
On the Public Administration front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Blackboard.
Mode of instruction
The course consists of lectures, work in smaller groups and self-study.
Course Load
Total course load: 140 hours
Of which:
Lecture 6 × 3 hours = 18 hours
Seminar 1 × 3 hours = 3 hours
Further structured study (work in groups on cases): 15 hours
Self-study: 104 hours
Assessment method
- Oral presentation done in groups (20 % of total grade).
- Written policy brief prepared in groups (20 % of total grade).
- Individual paper (60 % of total grade).
Retake is possible for the individual paper if the grade was lower than 5.5.
You can find more information about assessments and the timetable exams on the website.
Details for submitting papers (deadlines) are posted on Blackboard.
On the Public Administration front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website, uSis and Blackboard.
Resit
Students will be permitted to resit an examination if they have a mark lower than 5.5 or with permission of the Board of Examiners.
Resit written exam
Students that want to take part in a resit for a written exam, are required to register via uSis. Use the activity number that can be found on the ‘timetable exams’.
Blackboard
Yes.
Reading list
To be announced.
Registration
Use both uSis and Blackboard to register for every course.
Register for every course and workgroup via uSis. Some courses and workgroups have a limited number of participants, so register on time (before the course starts). In uSis you can access your personal schedule and view your results. Registration in uSis is possible from four weeks before the start of the course.
Also register for every course in Blackboard. Important information about the course is posted here.
Contact
Mr. Dr. J. Christensen
j.christensen@fgga.leidenuniv.nl