The course aims at offering students
an opportunity to understand the new role of bilateral and multilateral
diplomacy in a globalized world where the theoretical asumptions of traditional
International law(such as the principles of State sovereignty and equality,,of
non interference in internal affairs,of the legittimate use of force and so on)
are facing a gradual but inevitabile transformation.The course willl be
conducted by Ambassador Alberto Schepisi,who,during his diplomatic career
in the Italian Foreign Service,has served,at various levels,in all fields of
diplomacy ,with special attention to multilateral diplomacy.
The course is designed for students
interested in general in the field of international relations ,with
particular interest in careers in diplomacy, in International
Organization,multilateral corporations,NGO,etc.
The course will examine how the real
architecture of the International society is no longer “rigid and horizontal”a
it emerges from the United Nations Charter and from the old textbooks of
International law,but it tends to be more “liquid and vertical”.
As a matter of fact,the gap between
theory,law and reality is the main cause for the crisis of the United Nations
and the main reason why it is so difficult to reform it.
The teacher will illustrate to
students practical cases and examples taken from his diplomatic
career,especially from his service at the Italian Permanent Missions at
the UN in Geneva and Vienna.
Special attention will also be given
to the analysis and discussion on the role of the UN and International
diplomacy in facing the transnational,global challengesof the 21st
century(energy,environment and climate,mas
migrations,poverty,terrosism,organized crime,nuclear weapons…).
In each class the teacher will
comment the current events in in international diplomacy with special reference
to the role of the United Nations and discuss them with the students
A)INTRODUCTION:
1)Globalization and global international politics
2)The evolution of the international society
3) Modern international law :its meaning and its gradual transformation into a supranational or transnational law.
4)Diplomacy and its role in the contemporary global system
B)THE UNITED NATIONS
5)The United Nations in World Politics
6)Brief history towards a new world order(1815-1945) :the League of Nations
7)United Nations Diplomacy
8)The United Nations and its principal organs
9)The General Assembly of the UN
10)The Security Council in theory
12)The Security Council in practice
13)Peace keeping operations
14) The UN and economic and social cooperation
15)The “soft power” of the UN
16)The UN and the protection of human rights
17)Specialized Agencies
18)The future of the UN:the reform process
C)INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY and TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES:
19)Transnational Actors and International Organizations in Global Politics
20)Environmental issues
21)Terrorism and globalization
22)Nuclear proliferation
23)Mass migrations
24)Energy supplies
25) Nationalism as a reaction to globalisation
26)European integration and regional cooperation
D)CONCLUSION:
27)Prospects of multilateral Diplomacy
28)The new international order: from a “rigid” and horizontal to a “liquid” and vertical asset.