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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 212-1"
COURSE NAME: "International Organizations"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2018
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Eszter Salgo
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 1:30-2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: PL 209
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines attempts at international cooperation in various institutional forms. The course analyzes efforts of twentieth-century internationalism, from the League of Nations up to the United Nations (UN). Main regional organizations are also examined, such as NATO, the African Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, World Trade Organization and Organization of American States.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The first session of the course will focus on global governance. International organizations, which constitute only a part of a complex and interdependent world of global politics, will be defined broadly to encompass both intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The dilemma concerning global governance’s effectiveness will also be addressed by focusing on power dynamics, legitimacy and accountability. Inspired by the thesis according to which regions have emerged as “a driving force in world politics”, the second part of the course will provide an in-depth look at the regional and sub-regional organizations active in Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. The third part of the course will be dedicated to the analysis of the United Nations. It will investigate in detail its main function, promoting collective security, and its most visible symbol, the peace operations. Topics to be covered will include the changing nature, the successes and the failures of past and present peace-keeping and peace-enforcement operations. Mindful of the expansion of human rights norms and of the consequent shift of the global community’s attention from state and government security to human security, the impact of the emerging norm of responsibility to protect will be investigated as well. The fourth part of the course will be devoted to the role played by IOs in addressing cross-cutting issues and challenges whose resolution requires a global approach (human development and economic well-being, human rights, environmental problems, international peace and security).

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive overview of the actors, processes and challenges involved in global governance. They will be able to: 1. assess critically the role and the impact of international organizations; 2. employ analytical skills in order to evaluate the role of global governance; 3. describe in detail the various regional organizations present in Europe, the America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East; 4. evaluate critically the successes and the failures of the United Nations; 5. demonstrate analytical skills in using case studies to better understand the need for global governance; 6. employ critical thinking and analytical skills; 7. use research skills including data-gathering skills (relying on both primary and secondary sources);  and 8. demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills within the context of international politics.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
International OrganizationsKarns & MingstLynne Rienner Publishers1626371512     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class attendance and participation in debatesClass attendance will be considered in combination with assessment of students’ active participation in general and specifically during the class debates. Students will not be penalized for two absences. If further absences are recorded, grade penalties will be applied. From one to four more absences will reduce the participation score by 5% for each absence. More than six total absences will result in the overall F.10%
Oral presentationEach student has to conduct an individual research project and provide an approximately 10 minute long oral presentation.Oral Presentation is graded on ability to provide a convincing and stimulating analysis, critically analyze alternative points of view and to provide satisfying answers to questions raised in the discussion.15%
Term paperEach student has to submit a term paper on the same topic (2000-2500 words, using APA citation style): research abstract (one paragraph which includes the title and a few sentences explaining the choice and the most important issues) with running bibliography should be handed by February 5; the final research paper must submitted by April 16. The key to a successful research paper is ability to back theses with specific evidence; draw on and cite correctly a wide range of the good, reliable and up-to-date sources (both scholarly and newspaper/magazine article); move beyond descriptive summary raising and produce a well-organized, clearly written, critical and persuasive analysis.25%
Midterm examThe midterm exam consists of test questions, short answers and essay questions. Students are graded on accuracy, depth of analysis, logical content, creative thinking, on their ability to formulate a sophisticated argument, provide evidence for their statements, discuss and show understanding of alternative explanations.15%
Final examIn terms of structure, the final exam is similar to the midterm exam. It is cumulative.35%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cou
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Class attendance is mandatory. Students will not be penalized for two absences. If further absences are recorded, grade penalties will be applied. From one to four more absences will reduce the participation score by 5% for each absence. More than six total absences will result in the overall F.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week

Topic

Reading

Week 1

-          Introduction

-          The Challenges of Global Governance

       

-          Textbook, Chapter 1

Week 2

-          The Theoretical Foundations of Global Governance

-          The Evolution of Global Governance

-          Textbook, Chapter 2

-          Textbook, Chapters 3

Week 3

-          The United Nations: Centerpiece of Global Governance

-          The Reform of the United Nations

-          Textbook, Chapter 4

-          United Nations (2015) United Nations Still Essential but Needs Reform to Be ‘Fit for Purpose’ in Coming Decades, Speakers Say as General Assembly Debate Continues, Seventieth Session, General Assembly Plenary

Week 4

 

-           Cosmopolitanism and Global Governance

-           Regional Organizations in Europe

 

-           Held, David (2009) Restructuring global governance: cosmopolitanism, democracy and the global order. Millennium Journal of International Studies, 37 (3). pp. 535-547 and Daniele Archibugi and David Held Cosmopolitan Democracy: Paths and Agents, In Ethics & International Affairs, 25, no. 4 (2011), pp. 433-461

-          Textbook pp. 161-170; 177-195

Week 5

-            The European Union. Document Analysis

-             North Atlantic Treaty Organization

-             Regional Organizations in Asia (Feb. 16 - make-up day for April 25)

 

-            European Commission (2014), The European Union explained: Europe in 12 lessons 

-            Textbook pp. 170-177;  NATO at a crossroads: Next steps for the trans-Atlantic alliance (2017) Brookings Institute

-      Textbook pp. 205-220 and Council on Foreign Relations (2015) Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Week 6

-      Regional Organizations in the Americas 

-      Regional Organizations in Africa

-             Textbook pp. 195-205 and  Andrea C. Bianculli (2015) Explaining Latin American Regionalism in a Changing World

-             Textbook pp. 220-229 and Crisis Group (2017) Time to Reset African Union-European Union Relations

Week 7

-          Review

-          Oral Presentations

      

Week 8

-           Oral Presentations

-          Midterm exam

 

Week 9

-           Review of the midterm exam

-           Non-state actors

  

-Textbook, Chapter 6

Week 10

-            Debate: How to Define, How to Measure and how to Promote Development

-          Global Economic Governance

-          Textbook, Chapter 9 and J. Norberg (2010) GDP and its enemies: the questionable search for a happiness index

-          Textbook, Chapter 8       

Week 11

-          Protecting Human Rights

-          Promoting peace and security

-           Textbook, Chapter 10

-           Textbook, Chapter 7

Week 12

-            BREAK

 

Week 13

-         Protecting the Environment

-         Global Governance in 1995 and in 2015

-             Textbook, Chapter 11

-             The Report of the Commission on Global Governance (1995) Our Global Neighborhood  and Y. Rashchupkina (2016) Global governance: present and future. Palgrave Communications. 2:15045     

Week 14

-           State Sovereignty in the Age of Globalization A New World Order?

-        A new world order?  

-             Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, pp. VII-18; Held, D. (2011) From the American Century to a cosmopolitan order and Fonte, J. (2011) Sovereignty or Submission: Liberal Democracy or Global Governance?  

-             S. Patrick (2016)   World Order: What, Exactly, are the Rules?  The Washington Quarterly 39:1 pp. 7–27

Week 15

-           Review

-          April 25 - Holiday