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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 212-1"
COURSE NAME: "International Organizations"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Eszter Salgo
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 8:30 AM 9:45 AM
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). Inspired by the interpretative and reflexive traditions and methodologies of the social sciences, throughout the course students will attribute attention to popular culture (in particular to its visual and emotional dimensions).
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. improve research skills; 8. view images (and the absence of images) critically (defend themselves against manipulation and deception) and 9. demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills within the context of international politics.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
International OrganizationsKarnsLyenne978-1-68585-979-4      
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class participationElectronics free class - students cannot use their devices except when requested by the prof. Attendance is mandatory; max three absences are tolerated. Students are expected to read the assigned chapters/articles, show interest/curiosity in world politics and participate in class discussions with thoughtful comments.15%
Book reviewStudents are expected to explore our library's collection, choose a book that relates (directly or indirectly) to international organizations, offer a 10-minute-long analytical review and participate in the class discussions with thoughtful comments.30%
Midterm examThe midterm exam consists of essay questions. It tests students' knowledge and their critical and creative thinking.15%
Final examThe final exam consists of short questions. It tests students' knowledge of the topics covered throughout the semester.40%

-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

    

Week I

Class 1: Introduction

Class 2: International Organizations. Verbal and visual representations

Individual research

 

Week II

Class 3: Why Global Governance?

Reading: Karns (2024) Chapter 1 + Leeds (2025) The Future of Global Governance

and World Order

Class 4: Goddard (2025) Further Back to the Future: Neo-Royalism, the Trump Administration, and the Emerging International System + Gellwitzki (2025) The New Age of Myth: Political Narratives and the Reconstitution of World Order

 

Week III

Class 5: Theoretical perspectives

Reading: Karns (2024), Chapter 2 + Holding the World Together? The Future of Territorial Order

Kenneth A. Schultz

Class 6: The United Nations

Reading: Karns (2024), Chapter 4 + Crisis Group (2025) Ten Challenges for the UN in 2025-2026

 

Week IV

Class 7: Regionalism in Europe

Reading: Karns (2024) Chapter 5

Class 8: The EU and its challenges

Reading: Moller (2025) Two tales in a city: The European Union in 2026 + EU Observer (2025) Ten EU priorities for 2026

 

Week V

Class 9: visit to EU multimedia center

Reading: Rasmussen (2009) Discourse Analysis of EU Public Diplomacy: Messages and Practices

Class 10. Regionalism in Asia

Reading: textbook + ISPI Dossier (2025) Flawed But Enduring: 10 Years of the Eurasian Economic Union+ Ketchley & Andersen & Jacob (2025) The Chinese are coming! US think tanks and the Belt and Road Initiative in the Middle East and North Africa

 

Week VI

Class 11: Regionalism in the Americas

Reading: textbook + Scruggs (2025)OAS: the Washington-based body aiming to unite the Americas in the face of Trump’s threats + J.P. Morgan (2025)The future of regional integration: Can Latin America thrive in a new era?

Class 12: Review

 

Week VII:

Class 13: Midterm exam

Class 14: Regionalism in Africa

Reading: textbook + Gänzle (2025) Sahelexit raises questions about the future of West African integration + Int. Crisis Group (2026) Priorities for the African Union

Dollar Diminished: The Unmaking of US Financial Hegemony Under Trump

 

Week VIII: BREAK

 

Week IX:

Class 15: Non-state actors

Reading: Karns (2024), Chapter 6

Class 16: Non-state actors

Reading: group project

 

Week X:

Class 17: IOs promoting HRs

Reading: Karns (2024), Chapter 9+ Cordell (2025) Authoritarianism, Global Politics, and the Future of Human Rights

Class 18: IOs promoting development

Reading: Karns (2024), Chapter 8

 

Week XI

Class 19: Challenges in global economic governance

Reading: Tan (2025) The Decoupling Dilemma: How US Sanctions Erode Global Economic Governance & Pforr (2025) Dollar Diminished: The Unmaking of US Financial Hegemony Under Trump

Class 20: IOs promoting security

Reading: Karns (2024), Chapter 10

 

Week XII

Class 21: UN & NATO responses to crises

Reading: Reeder (2025) The Future of United Nations Peacekeeping in a Fragmenting World + Dembinski (2025) NATO’s uncertain future

Class 22: Challenges in the global environmental governance

Reading: Karns (2024) chapter 14 + Colgan (2025) Global Climate Politics after the Return of President Trump

 

Week XIII

Class 23: Oral presentations

Class 24 Oral presentations

 

Week XIV

Class 25: Oral presentations

Class 26: Visit to FAO

 

Class 27: Final reflections

Readings: TBA

Class 28: Review