The course aims at introducing students to the concept of global governance, its challenges and limitations and the most important actors at the supra-national level. The foundations of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and the role they play in world politics will be specifically studied. Attention will be dedicated in particular to understanding the structure, functions, major achievements and challenges faced by the most important intergovernmental organization, namely the United Nations (UN). Its action in the fields of international peace and security, human rights and the environment, as well as the major challenge related to reforming the organization will be studied. Regional and sub-regional organizations - such as the European Union (EU), the Organization of American States (OSA), the African Union (AU) and the League of Arab States - security organizations – including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) - as well as the key organizations based in Rome - namely the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) - will also be taken into consideration. Finally, while it is evident that IGOs remain fundamental actors at the supranational level, new ones are emerging as well, such as inter alia non-for profit non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations, so that, throughout the course, their role in world politics will be examined as well.

The course discusses the fundamental concept of global governance, identifies relevant well-established and new emerging actors at the international level and examines their structure, functions and the challenges they face.  

Students attending the course are expected to have acquired a specific knowledge of the concept of global governance. They will have developed an understanding of what IGOs are and how they work and they will be able to discuss about the challenges determined by the emergence of new actors in world politics. They will also have conducted specific research on a topic of their choice and written a paper aimed at analyzing it.

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge 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 course.

B:  This 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.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This 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.

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

FAO, Reforming FAO into the New Millennium (FAO, 2000) available at http://www.fao.org/docrep/x4104e/x4104e00.htm#P0_0.