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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 212-1"
COURSE NAME: "International Organizations"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Luigi Sensi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 6:00 PM 7:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: PL 209
OFFICE HOURS: TUE and THU from 1630 to 1800 (Tiber campus)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Big problems require big solutions:

-          Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch fight their daily battle on behalf of prisoners and victims of government abuse all over the world;

-          the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders bring help to war victims and refugees;

-          transnational networks of concerned citizens such as the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines and the Cluster Munition Coalition force governments to stop using particularly indiscriminate and injurious weapons;

-          the United Nations and its specialized agencies mobilize their global resources to bring emergency relief to famine-stricken areas, to promote economic and social development in the poorer countries and to eradicate contagious diseases;

-          regional organizations such as the Arab League mediate between opposing parties in the unrest that accompanied and followed the Arab Spring;

-          NATO, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States intervene in civil wars and regional conflicts to protect civilian populations and reestablish peace and security;

-          the former arch-enemies of two world wars agree to join together and form the most closely integrated international organization existing today, the European Union.

The study of international organizations challenges a popular assumption of international relations, i.e., that the international arena is anarchic and in a constant state of unbridled competition. Throughout history nation states and other international actors have felt the need to enter into arrangements with each other or join international organizations that facilitated cooperation and coordination. It has not been uncommon for sovereign states to give up part of their freedom of action in order to better achieve common goals, such as preserving peace and international stability, expanding international trade, or protecting their nationals abroad. From the treaties of Westphalia of 1648, to the Concert of Europe of the 19th century and the League of Nations of the interwar period, sovereign states have agreed to be bound by more or less formal rules of international behavior when their interests required it. Since World War II these various forms of cooperation and coordination have expanded exponentially. This growth is due to many factors, including technological advances that facilitate cross-border interaction, changing political and cultural attitudes, the proliferation of influential non-state actors, and a growing sensitivity to certain problems (such as those related to international trade and finance, human rights, the environment, etc.) which cannot be effectively addressed by individual actors and thus require concerted international effort.

The development of international cooperation and coordination - often referred to as Global Governance - is therefore the result of both new opportunities and new needs. During our course we will review the principal factors driving the growth of international organizations and other arrangements, and explain how different types of needs and opportunities favored the creation of different forms of cooperation. We shall review and compare a sample of international institutions, multilateral agreements, and other types of formal and less formal arrangements.

The course will allow us to review key concept in international organization theory and become familiar with concrete examples of such cooperation. Part of the course will be dedicated to analyzing the leading international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the IMF and the World Bank, the African Union, ASEAN, the European Union, NATO, OSCE, etc. We shall study their history, structure and function as well as each institution’s complex relationship with its member states and the most pressing issues facing it today. We shall also analyze the nature and role of non-state actors such as NGOs, of other less formal networks and transnational social movements. Lastly, we shall focus on specific issues facing the international community, such as the prevention and termination of conflicts, the promotion and enforcement of civil and political rights as well as social and economic rights, and environmental protection. We shall analyze the international arrangements created to address them and assess how these arrangements have performed.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

What is Global Governance?

General theories of International Relations and Global Governance

The long historical roots of Global Governance: the city-state leagues of ancient Greece, the Hanseatic League of Northern Europe, the Concert of Europe, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Nations.

The key components of Global Governance: International Governmental Organizations, NGOs, States, Multinational Corporations

Important global IGOs such as the United Nations, the WTO, the ILO, the IMF and the WB, the ICC.

Key regional IGOs: the African Union; ASEAN; the European Union, NATO, OCSE

The growing role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Other non-state actors in global governance: epistemic communities and multi-stakeholder actors

How powerful states and less powerful ones relate to global governance.

Peace and security: the complicated world of multinational peace-keeping and state-building

Civil and political rights: the role of NGOs as advocates and monitors; ECOSOC and other organs of the UN; the impact of international treaties.

Problems confronting global governance: refugees and IDPs, weapon proliferation, international terrorism, transnational crime, environmental protection

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Our main objective in this class is to develop an understanding of (and a renewed interest in) the following :

a) The leading theories of international organization;

b) The structure and inner workings of leading international institutions (both NGOs and IGOs);

c) How international arrangements - among states as well as among states and non-state actors - develop and take root; and

d) How Global Governance instruments are used to address some of the problems facing the international community.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
International Organizations (2013, SECOND EDITION)Ian HurdCambridge University Press9781107612617     
Beyond Sovereignty: Issues for the Global AgendaMaryann Cusimano LoveWadsworth Cengage Learning13: 978-0-495-90894-4     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global GovernanceMargaret Karns and Karen MingstLynne Rienner978-1-58826-698-9  
European Union PoliticsJohn McCormickPalgrave McMillan978-0-230-57707-7  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
in-class exercises and class participation 25%
Mid Term Exam 25%
Final Examination 50%

-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 course.
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:
Attendance is mandatory
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

Unit 1

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

“International Organizations: the Politics and Processes of Global Governance” (Second Edition, Lynne Rienner Publishers), by Margaret Karns and Karen Mingst (“IO”), pages 1 – 14



Unit 2

THE KEY ACTORS IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE; MULTILATERALISM; THE NEED FOR GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

IO pages 14-33



Unit 3

FOUNDATIONS OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

IO chapter 3 pages 63-73



Unit 4

INTRODUCTION TO IGOs

“International Organizations: Politics, Law, Practice” (Cambridge University Press 2011), by Ian Hurd (“IOPLP”), chapter 1.



Unit 5

THE DIFFERENT ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF IGOs

IOPLP chapter 2



Unit 6

THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

IOPLP chapter 3



Unit 7

THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND THE WORLD BANK

IOPLP chapter 4



Unit 8

THE UNITED NATIONS (I): LAW AND ADMINISTRATION

IOPLP chapter 5



Unit 9

THE UNITED NATIONS (II): INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

IOPLP chapter 6



Unit 10

THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION

IOPLP chapter 7



Unit 11

THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

IOPLP chapter 8



Unit 12

THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

IOPLP chapter 9



Unit 13

REGIONAL IGOs: THE ROOTS AND DYNAMICS OF REGIONALISM

- IO pages 145-153

REGIONAL IGOs: NATO and OSCE

- IO pages 153-160



Unit 14

MIDTERM EXAM



Unit 15

THE EUROPEAN UNION: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

“European Union Politics” (2011 Palgrave McMillan), by John McCormick (“EUP”), chapter 10



Unit 16

THE EUROPEAN UNION: THE COUNCILS AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

EUP chapter 11 and pages 214-219



Unit 17

OTHER REGIONAL IGOs

IOPLP chapter 10



Unit 18

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs)

IO chapter 6



Unit 19

THE STATES AS KEY ACTORS IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

IO chapter 7



Unit 20

THE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS

“Beyond Sovereignty: Issues for a Global Agenda” (4th edition, Wadsworth Cangage), by Maryann Cusimano Love (“MCL”), chapter 4



Unit 21

REFUGEES, MIGRANTS AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE (IDP)

MCL chapter 8



Unit 22

NON-PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

MCL chapter 11



Unit 23

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

MCL chapter 5



Unit 24

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS

MCL chapter 6



Unit 25

ECOLOGICAL INTERDEPENDENCE AND THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE

MCL chapter 10



Unit 26

THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

MCL chapter 12



Unit 27

THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

Selected readings



Unit 28

FINAL EXAM REVIEW SESSION