COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores the institutional structures, political processes, and impact of international organizations within the larger context of world politics. International organizations, both governmental and nongovernmental, play an increasingly prominent role in efforts to resolve a wide range of global problems and are important elements in the current system of global governance. While the course will cover the traditional problems---international security, the global distribution of wealth, and threats to social welfare---particular attention will be given to international environmental problems. Because of its scope and importance in these areas, the activities and influence of the United Nations System is given special emphasis in the course.
The overall objectives of the course require that students:
1. Delineate the historical antecedents and
trends in the growth of international organizations,
2. Identify the various types of international
and transnational organizations and discuss the
important characteristics
of each,
3. Discuss the various theories and concepts
used to study international organizations,
4. Describe the structure and activities of
the principal organs and specialized agencies of the
UN system
5. Evaluate the past and present performance
and future prospects of international
organizations n the
world community
COURSE MATERIALS
All additional documents for the course are on the home page
http://hilltop/~aspin/318www/index.htm
http://hilltop.bradley.edu/~aspin/318www/index.htm
The following books have been ordered and are available at the bookstore:
Margaret P. Karns and Karen
A. Mingst, International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global
Governance
Any other required reading material will be found on reserve in the
library or on the WWW.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Exams:
There will be two exams in the course. The first exam will be
October
19. The specific format will be announced at least one week
in advance during the regular class period. The second exam is during the
final exam period on December 14.
Makeup exams will be given only if two conditions are satisfied:
(1) you have a valid reason, to be determined
by the instructor, for not being at the regular
exam, and
(2) arrangements are made at least 24 hours before
the exam.
IGO/NGO Reports:
You will write two short reports, one on an IGO and
one for an NGO. One of the two reports will be presented in class and the
other will be handed in on October 23. You have no more than 10 minutes of class
to give your report while demonstrating the organization's WWW site in class.
See the IGO/NGO project page for details. See the
Report Calendar for when reports will be
presented in class.
Group Issue Project:
In the second half of the course, the lectures on Monday
and Wednesday will focus on the activity of international organizations in a general
topic area. Fridays will be devoted to discussing a specific issue in this general
area. The class will do five group research reports which will be reported
in the form of a set of
web pages. These web pages will remain part of the PLS 318 home page until
the next time the course is taught. Thus, each team will (1) research the issue,
(2) report their results in the
form of a web page, and (3) lead the class discussion. See the
Group project web
page for requirements, detail, and a template.
Usually the examination of international organization performance is organized by general topic: security, economics, human rights, social, resources, etc. Within each of these areas there are a number of specific issues. We will divide into five teams and then each team will select the specific issue within its assigned area to be researched and discussed. For example, within the security area we would focus on a phenomenon such terrorism, a specific type of activity such as peace keeping, or very specific current issue such as Iraq. Once the issue is selected a series of online background readings will be added to the syllabus. See the course calendar for when each topic will be addressed. Also you may wish to examine the current issues before the UN General Assembly when selecting your specific issue.
Discussion:
The overall class format is lecture/discussion. In addition,
four class periods, primarily Fridays in the second half of the course, are
devoted to the discussion of a specific topic with the subject area of the week. In general,
everyone is expected
to read the material for each topic (links are in the online syllabus) and be prepared to discuss it.
Your discussion grade includes the entire semester and not the formal discussions.
Final Grade:
Your final grade will be determined as follows:
1st Exam...........……………..30.0%
2nd Exam..........……………. 30.0%
IGO/NGO Projects
Presented in Class .…… 12.5%
Not Presented…..………. 10.0%
Issue Project …............…...10.0%
Discussion.............… …… . 7.5%
COURSE OUTLINE AND REQUIRED READINGS
I Introduction
A. Definitions and Types of International
Organizations
Readings:
K & M Chapter 1
Diehl, The Politics of
Global Governance: International Organizations in an Interdependent World,
Introduction
Willetts,
"What
is a Non-Governmental Organization?"
World Bank
Definition of Civil Society
II Evolutionary
Development of International Organizations
A. League of Nations and the United Nations
1. The League of Nations
2. UN Principles and
Practices
3. Structural Components
Readings:
K & M, Ch 4
Basic Links for Major UN Structures
http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/structure/index.shtml
B. Historical Trends
Readings:
K & M Ch 3
C. Creation of IGOs
Readings:
Jacobson, Networks of
Interdependence, Ch 4
Jacobson, et al, "National
Entaglements in Int'l Governmental Organizations"
Abbott and Snidal,
"Why States Act Through
Formal International Organizations"
http://jcr.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/42/1/3
III Institutions and Processes
A. Typical Structure
Readings: Harold
Jacobson, Networks of Interdependence, Ch 5
B. Role(s) of
International Organizations
Readings:
Roles and
Functions of International Organizations
C. Decision-Making in
IGOs
Readings: Cox and
Jacobson, "The Framework for Inquiry" in Paul Diehl, The Politics of Global
Governance:
International Organizations in an Interdependent World
IV Nongovernmental Int'l Organizations (NGOs)
& Multinational
Corporations (MNCs)
Readings:
K & M Ch 6
Andrew S. Natsios, "NGOs
and the UN system in complex humanitarian emergencies: conflict or
cooperation?"
V Analytical Approaches
A. Overview of the Field and its Approaches to
International Organizations
B. Neo-Institutionalism & International
Regimes
Readings:
K & M Ch 2
Mearsheimer,
"The False Promise of
International Institutions"
VI Functional Areas and International
Organizations Performance
A. Security
1. Peaceful
Settlement of Disputes
2. Collective
Security
3. Peace Keeping:
UN Efforts During the Cold War
4. Peace Making:
UN Efforts After the Cold War & in the Future
Readings:
K & M
Ch 8
Current Peace
Keeping Operations http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/ops.htm
B. Promotion of Human
Rights
Readings:
K & M Ch 10
C. Promotion
of Economic Welfare
1. Growth and IGOs
2. Development
Readings:
K & M Ch 9, Ch 12
pp 499-510.
Discussion Topic:
To be announced
Readings: To be announced
D. Protection of the Environment
Readings:
K & M Ch 11
Doyle and
Massey "International Organizations and the Environment: An
Introduction"
Doyle
and Massey, "Intergovernmental
organizations and the environment:
Looking Towards the future"
E. Promotion of Social
Progress
Readings:
Allyn Taylor,
"Global governance,
international health law and WHO: looking
towards the future"
UN Office of Drugs
and Crime http://www.unodc.org/
WHO
http://www.who.int/en
UN
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
WHO Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
Swine Flu
UN Millennium
Development Goals http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/mdg2007.pdf
VII Conclusions/Future
A. Evaluations and Proposed Reforms of the Global Governance
Organizations
Readings:
Agenda for Peace http://www.un.org/Docs/SG/agpeace.html
The Report of the
Commission on Global Governance, Our Global Neighbourhood, Chapter 7
http://www.libertymatters.org/chap7.htm
Conference on Reform
of the UN and Other International Institutions http://www.ubuntu.upc.edu/pdf/conf_eng.pdf
B. The Future
Readings:
K & M Ch 12
Weiss, Forsythe, & Coate,
The United Nations and Changing World Politics, 5th edition, Conclusion
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