Type of Credit: Elective
Credit(s)
Number of Students
The goal of this course is to introduce and guide students to the theoretical frameworks, empirical cases, and debates in the field of international organizations (IOs). It is structured into three parts. At the beginning, this course will focus on the different perspectives in International Relations scholarship for understanding global governance and concepts and models of IOs. Second, the effects of IOs especially the United Nations on world politics are examined. Third, this course will investigate and identify different types of IOs and how they affect the modern world. Among the subjects and issues of the historical roots of IOs, the primary attention is paid on the role of IOs in the following areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Peace and Human Security; Human Rights.
This class tends to be carried out in relatively flexible way so the format for conducting and teaching classes can involve a variety of methods including in-class lectures, guest speaker lectures, group discussions, visits, field trips, film watching (relevant topics) etc.
能力項目說明
Students are expected to: 1. Describe and analyze fluently the key arguments of different theoretical paradigms surrounding why IOs exist and what they accomplish in world politics. 2. Apply and critique theoretical frameworks about IOs to real world examples of IOs and the challenges they face. 3. Conduct and present an achievable research to answer an original question related to IOs. In short, students will become familiar with the evolution of IOs as well as their roles, processes, and functions in the contemporary world. These will include global and regional organizations in the areas of trade and finance, international security, development, the environment, and human rights etc. We will analyze how these IOs are meeting the challenges posed by globalization and changing global power alignments and ponder their contribution to international order. In addition to classroom lectures, subject to availability, filed trips to relevant agencies and organizations (e.g. NGO) will be arranged during the semester.
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1. Presentations (30%)
One in-class presentation and leading the class discussions. Each student needs to prepare one presentation (30 minutes in length, followed by leading a 15-minute discussion). Subjects of presentation need to be relevant to the topics and issues of international organizations. Students are encouraged to use their creativity and use any form (such as Powpoint, short film etc.) to make their presentations.
2. Essay (30%)
Each student is required to write an essay between 1500-2000 words in length about current policy issues involving international institutions and international organizations. Specifically, student should select one international organization as a case as well as a country or group of countries that are members of this organization; major issues of the selected IO needs to be identified. The essay should present the brief background of the selected IO, major research questions, review and analyze current research on the issue, and the answers of the research question. Topics can be discussed with the course lecture.
3. Class Participation (40%)
Class participation is an assessment of each student‘s willingness and ability to comment on the contents of lecture topics. Student need to prepare to discuss the readings assigned for each week. Participation of group discussions is equally important. Even though the schedule below defines lecture topics, instructor will conduct each class through powerpoint slides and dialogue that encourage contributions of substantive knowledge and of different perspectives among students. Time will be allocated at the beginning of each class period to discuss the week‘s reading assignments. For attendance, students are expected to attend at least 75 % of the scheduled classes.
Margaret P. Karns, Karen A. Mingst, and Kendall W. Stiles, International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance, 3rd edition (2015).
Thomas G. Weiss, David P. Forsythe, Roger A. Coate, and Kelly-Kate Pease, The United Nations and Changing World Politics, 7th edition (2014).
Additional readings
Additional supplementary readings will be prepared for students. Despite students are not obligated to read all supplementary readings, nevertheless, students should find them helpful.