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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 212-2"
COURSE NAME: "International Organizations"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2015
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Silvia Scarpa
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: PL 209
OFFICE HOURS:
by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
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) will also be taken into consideration. Finally, while it is evident that
IGOs remain fundamental actors at the supranational level, the role that new ones - such as inter alia non-for profit non-governmental
organizations and multinational corporations - play in world politics will be examined too.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
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 and functions, as well as the challenges they
face.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
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 group work and research on a topic of their choice for the purpose of drafting an advocacy plan.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance | Margaret P. Karns & Karen A. Mingst | Lynne Rienner Publishers | 978-1588266989 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Mid-Term Exam | Essay questions. | 25% |
| Final Exam | Essay questions. | 25% |
| Advocacy Plan | Group work + essay (2,000 words minimum). | 25% |
| Oral presentation | In-class oral presentation of group work. | 15% |
| Class participation | Students shall attend classes and participate to class discussions. | 10% |
-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:
Students
are expected to attend classes regularly to read assigned reading materials before each class and to contribute to class
discussions.
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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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WEEK
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TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
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READING ASSIGNMENTS
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Week 1 (January 19 and 21)
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Introduction to the Course.
The challenges of global governance.
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Karns & Mingst, Ch. 1
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Week 2 (January 26 and 28)
January 26: last day for late
registration/last day to drop or add classes.
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The foundations of Global
Governance.
The League of Nations:
successes and failures
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Karns & Mingst, Ch. 3,
p. 63 – 72; Davies.
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Week 3 (February 2 and 4)
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The United Nations.
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Karns & Mingst, Ch. 4
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Week 4 (February 9 and 11)
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Taiwan and UN membership.
The Reform of the UN
Security Council.
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Winkler.
Lee; Gowan.
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Week 5 (February 16 and 18)
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Regional and security
organizations
The North Atlantic Treaty
Organization. NATO and the Ukraine Crisis
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Karns & Mingst, Ch. 5, p. 145 – 154; 178 – 180; 188 – 191; 203 – 204;
210 – 211; 214- 216.
Karns
& Mingst, Ch. 5, p. 155 – 159; Mearsheimer; Taylor.
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Week 6 (February 23 and 25)
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General summary
February 25TH: Mid-term exam
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Week 7 (March 2 and 4)
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The European Union.
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Karns and Mingst, Ch. 5, p. 160 – 177.
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Week 8 (March 9 and 11)
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Non-State Actors.
International
Peace and Security
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Karns & Mingst, and 6.
Karns & Mingst, Ch. 8,
p. 289 - 354. Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
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Week 9 (March 16 and 18)
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Con’t
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Week 10 (March 23 and 25)
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Protecting Human
Rights
MARCH 25TH: DEADLINE FOR THE
SUBMISSION OF ADVOCACY PLANS.
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Karns & Mingst, Ch. 10,
p. 447 – 478 and p. 482 – 484.
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Week 11 (March 30 and April 1)
April 2: last day to withdraw from
a class
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Protecting the Environment
The Dilemmas of Global
Governance
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Karns & Mingst, Ch. 11,
p. 497 – 524.
Karns & Mingst, Ch. 12
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Week 12 (April 6 and 8)
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SPRING BREAK
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Week 13 (April 13 and 15)
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Students’ presentations
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Week 14 (April 20 and 22)
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Students’ presentations
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Week 15 (April 27 and 29)
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Con’t and Final summary.
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Week 16 (May 2-8)
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Final exam
Date TBA
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