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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 212-1"
COURSE NAME: "International Organizations"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2018
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Eszter Salgo
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 3:00-4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: PL 209
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment
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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.
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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).
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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.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| The Globalization of World Politics | Baylis | Oxford University Press | 978-0133807721 | | |
| International Organizations | Karns & Mingst | Lynne Rienner Publishers | 978-0133807721 | | |
| Would the World Be Better Without the UN? | Weiss | Polity | 978-1-509-51725-1 | | |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Class attendance and participation in debates | Class 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 presentation | Two students will conduct together a research project on how one specific international organization faces one particular challenge. The research abstract (one paragraph which includes the title and a few sentences explaining the choice and the most important issues) with running bibliography must be handed in by September 26. The approximately 10 minute long oral presentation will 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 paper | Students will submit their (collective) term paper (2000-2500 words, using APA citation style) by November 20. 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 exam | The midterm exam consists of short questions 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 exam | In 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 ____________
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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COURSE SCHEDULE
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Week
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Topic
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Reading
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Week 1
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- Introduction
- The Challenges of Global Governance
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- M. P. Karns, K. A. Mingst (2015), Chapter 1 and The Report of the Commission on Global Governance (1995) Our Global Neighborhood, Chapter 1 and 2
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Week 2
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- The Theoretical Foundations of Global Governance
- The Evolution of Global Governance
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- M. P. Karns, K. A. Mingst (2015), Chapter 2
- M. P. Karns, K. A. Mingst (2015), Chapters 3
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Week 3
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- The United Nations: Centerpiece of Global Governance
- The Reform of the United Nations
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- M. P. Karns, K. A. Mingst (2015), Chapter 4
- The President of the General Assembly (2018) On the question of equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters and M. A. Khalil (2018) With UN Security Council Reform, Bigger Is Not Better
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Week 4
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- Cosmopolitanism and Global Governance
- Regional Organizations in Europe
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- 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
- M. P. Karns, K. A. Mingst (2015), pp. 161-170; 177-195
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Week 5
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- The European Union. Document Analysis
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
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- European Commission (2017), Europe in 12 lessons
- M. P. Karns, K. A. Mingst (2015),pp. 170-177; NATO at a crossroads: Next steps for the trans-Atlantic alliance (2017) Brookings Institute
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Week 6
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- Regional Organizations in Asia
- Regional Organizations in the Americas
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- M. P. Karns, K. A. Mingst (2015), pp. 205-220 and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2018), Qingdao Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Crisis Group (2017) Central Asia's Silk Road Rivalries
- M. P. Karns, K. A. Mingst (2015), pp. 195-205 and M.Petersen, Carsten-Andreas Schulz (2018)Setting the Regional Agenda: A Critique of Posthegemonic Regionalism, Cambridge
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Week 7
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- Regional organizations in Africa
- Review
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M. P. Karns, K. A. Mingst (2015),pp. 220-229, D. Mickleu (2018) African Union Seeks Rejuvenation, Australian Institute of International Affairs
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Week 8
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- Midterm exam
- Non-state actors
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- M. P. Karns, K. A. Mingst (2015), Chapter 6
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Week 9
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- Protecting human rights
- Poverty, hunger and development
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- Baylis (2017) Chapter 31
- Baylis (2017) Chapter 29
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Week 10
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- From state security to human security
- Oral presentations
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- Baylis (2017) Chapter 30
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Week 11
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- Oral presentations
- Humanitarian interventions
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- Baylis (2017) Chapter 32
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Week 12
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- A world without the United Nations?
- A world without the United Nations?
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- T.G. Weiss (2018) Would the world be better without the UN?, Chapter 3 and Chapter 6
- T.G. Weiss (2018) Would the world be better without the UN?, Chapter 4 and Chapter 7
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Week 13
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- A world without the United Nations?
- The crisis of global governance?
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- T.G. Weiss (2018) Would the world be better without the UN?, Chapter 5 and Chapter 8
- Durch, Larik and Ponzio(2017) Just security and the crisis of global governance Survival 58:4, 95-112 and Y. Rashchupkina (2016) Global governance: present and future. Palgrave Communications. 2:15045
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Week 14
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- What future for international organizations?
- Review
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- T. G. Weiss (2018) Would the World Be Better Without the UN? Chapter 9 and Tobias Lenz (2017),The Rising Authority of International Organisations, GIGA Focus
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