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International Organisations
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:4.00
Study Course Accepted:09.02.2024 11:13:00
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | PZK_161 | LQF level: | Level 7 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 5.00 | ECTS: | 7.50 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Politics | Target Audience: | Political Science | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Gunda Reire | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf rsu[pnkts]lv | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 10 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 20 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 10 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 20 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 40 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | Overall knowledge of the methods and major theories of international relations, as well as general knowledge of the post-WWII history. | ||||||||
| Objective: | The objective of this study course is to expand knowledge on international organisations’ role and challenges in contemporary international environment. We will focus on how international organisations “institutionalize” cooperation at the international level, including their creation, internal dynamics, and their complicated relationship with state behaviour in various issues. During the course, we will examine specific international organisations in a variety of issues such as collective security, trade, finance, promotion of democracy and human rights, and regional integration. Case studies of international organisations include the United Nations, NATO, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, OSCE and others. In the context of international organisations, we will analyse values, interests and institutional mechanisms of international actors and use this knowledge to understand international cooperation and conflict at large. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | What is and what is not an International Organisation? Classification and Functions of International Organisations | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | The Roots: Historical Origins and Development of International Organisations. The League of Nations | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | We the Peoples: United Nations as the Centrepiece of Global Governance | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | The Blue Helmet and P5: The Role of the United Nations in Maintenance of International Peace and Security | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | The Role of the Bretton Woods Institutions in Global Economic Governance. IMF and the World Bank | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Bound to Fail? The Rise and Fall of the World Trade Organisation | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | The World is on Fire: Understanding NATO in the 21st century | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | OSCE: The Example of Transformation and High Operational Reputation | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 9 | Human rights, Democracy and The Rule of Law: The Council of Europe | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 10 | Global Conscience or Tool of Influence? International NGOs | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 11 | United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: Progress and Further Perspectives. Literature discussion. Paper presentations | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 12 | Rwanda Genocide: Factors of United Nations’ Failure. Literature discussion. Paper presentations | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 13 | IMF, Latvia and Financial Crisis 2008: Is Latvia's Successful Recovery Replicable? Literature discussion. Paper presentations | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 14 | Settling Disputes in the World Trade Organisation. Literature discussion. Paper presentations | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 15 | NATO, China and Transatlantic Security. Literature discussion. Paper presentations | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 16 | OSCE Response to the Crisis in and around Ukraine. Literature discussion. Paper presentations | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 17 | The Successes and Failures of the Council of Europe in Protection and Promotion of Human Rights. Literature discussion. Paper presentations | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 18 | Russia’s Influence in Regional International Organisations. Paper presentations | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 19 | Opportunities and Limitations of International Organisations in 21st Century. Paper presentations | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 20 | Fundraising in International Non-Governmental Organisations. Literature discussion. Paper presentations. Wrap-up | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | Presentation and paper; Final essay. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | Attendance – 10% Activity and preparedness during seminars – 30% Presentation and paper – 40% Final essay – 20% | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | The course aims to expand knowledge of students regarding comprehensive and comparative analysis of international organisations, their role and challenges they are facing in contemporary international environment. The course aims to give students an understanding of the major theoretical and empirical aspects of the role of international organisations in international politics, including their impact on the practice of international cooperation and conflict, maintenance of international peace and security, international economic relations a.o. | ||||||||
| Skills: | During the course, students’ skills to apply theoretical knowledge about international organisations and their role in the international environment will be trained by analysing specific case-studies. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | The aim of the course is to train competence of students to the level they can freely analyse the role of international organisations in international system, assess functions and their implementation as well as evaluate impact of the decision making of international organisations. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | - Azerbaijan: Government Repression Tarnishes Chairmanship Council of Europe's Leadership Should Take Action. Human Rights Watch, 2014. Available: https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/09/29/azerbaijan-government-r… | ||||||||
| 2 | - Barnett M., Finnemore M. The Politics, Power, and Pathologies of International Organizations. International Organization 53(4), 1999. pp. 699-732. Available: https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/… | ||||||||
| 3 | - Ben-Ari, R. International Nongovernmental Organizations: “Global Conscience” or Powerful Political. In: http://jcpa.org/article/international-nongovernmental-organ… | ||||||||
| 4 | - Casier, T. A Classic Dilemma: Russia's Threat to Withdraw from the Council of Europe. Heinrich Böll Stiftung European Union, 2018. Available: https://eu.boell.org/en/2018/02/21/classic-dilemma-russias-… | ||||||||
| 5 | - Copelovitch M. Master or Servant? Common Agency and the Political Economy of IMF Lending. International Studies Quarterly 54(1), 2010, pp. 49-77. | ||||||||
| 6 | - Donno D. Who is Punished? Regional Intergovernmental Organizations and the Enforcement of Democratic Norms. International Organization 64(4), 2010, pp. 593-625. | ||||||||
| 7 | - Hyde S. Catch Us if You Can: Election Monitoring and International Norm Diffusion. American Journal of Political Science 55(2), 2011, pp. 356-369. | ||||||||
| 8 | - Kahn R., Tananbaum S. The IMF and the Next Global Crisis. Global Economics Monthly March 2016. | ||||||||
| 9 | - Karns M., Mingst K., Stiles K. International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance. Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2015, pp. 1-40. | ||||||||
| 10 | - Kelley J. D-Minus Elections: The Politics and Norms of International Election Observation. International Organization 63(4), 2009, pp. 765-787. | ||||||||
| 11 | - Komisar L. Interview with Joseph Stiglitz. 2011. Global Policy Forum https://www.globalpolicy.org/social-and-economic-policy/the… | ||||||||
| 12 | - NATO at 70 - The bedrock of European and transatlantic security. Speech by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Körber Global Leaders Dialogue, Berlin, 2019. Available: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_170606.htm | ||||||||
| 13 | - Pallas C. L., Urpelainen J. NGO monitoring and the legitimacy of international cooperation: A strategic analysis. Review of International Organizations 7(1), 2012, pp. 1âA¸S32. | ||||||||
| 14 | - Pelc K. Seeking Escape: the Use of Escape Clauses in International Trade Agreements. International Studies Quarterly 53(2), 2009, pp. 349-368. | ||||||||
| 15 | - Schroeder W. NATO at seventy: Filling NATO’s critical defense-capability gaps. Atlantic Council, 2019. Available: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/r… | ||||||||
| 16 | - Schwab S. C. After Doha. Foreign Affairs, May/June 2011. | ||||||||
| 17 | - Stone R. The Scope of IMF Conditionality. International Organization 62(4), 2008, pp. 489- 620. | ||||||||
| 18 | - The United Nations System – Organizational Chart. Available: https://www.unsystem.org/content/unsystemchart-dpi | ||||||||
| 19 | - Tomz M., Goldstein J. L., Rivers D. Do We Really Know That the WTO Increases Trade? Comment. American Economic Review 97(5), 2007, pp.2005-2018. | ||||||||
| 20 | - Werker E., Ahmed F. What Do Non-Governmental Organizations Do? 2007. Available: http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/08-041.pdf | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | - Wallander C. Institutional Assets and Adaptability: NATO after the Cold War. International Organization 54(4), 2000, pp. 705-735. | ||||||||
| 2 | - Rose A. Do We Really Know that the WTO Increases Trade? American Economic Review 94 (1), 2004, pp. 98-114. | ||||||||
| 3 | - Martin, L., Simmons, B. Theories and Empirical Studies of International Institutions. International Organization 52(4), 1998, pp. 729-757. Available: https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/3382862/Theorie… | ||||||||
| 4 | - Langhorne R. New Directions of Multilateral Diplomacy. The Changing Roles of State and Nonstate Actors in Diplomatic Practice. In: Muldoon Jr. J. P., Aviel J. P., Reitano R., Sullivan E. (Eds.) Multilateral Diplomacy and the United Nations Today. Westview Press, 2005, pp. 298-308. | ||||||||
| 5 | - Wallensteen P., Johansson P. Security Council Decisions in Perspective. In: Malone D. M. (Ed.) The UN Security Council. From the Cold War to the 21st Century. Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2004, pp. 17-33. | ||||||||
| 6 | - Pevehouse J. Democracy from the Outside In? International Organizations and Democratization. International Organization 56(3), 2002, pp. 519-549. | ||||||||
| 7 | - Heiskanen V. The rationality of the use of force and the evolution of international organization. In: Coicaud J. M., Heiskanen V. (Eds.) The Legitimacy of International Organizations. The United Nations University Press, 2001, pp. 155-185. | ||||||||
| 8 | - Sirkku K. H. Multilateralism and economic justice. In: Newman E., Thakur R., Tirman J. (Eds.) Multilateralism Under Challenge? Power, International Order and Structural Change. United Nations University Press, 2006, pp.422-440. | ||||||||
| 9 | - Sullivan E. Multilateral Diplomacy in the Twenty-first Century. In: Muldoon Jr. J. P., Aviel J. P., Reitano R., Sullivan E. (Eds.) Multilateral Diplomacy and the United Nations Today. Westview Press, 2005, pp. 273-284. | ||||||||
| 10 | - Voeten E.The Political Origins of the UN Security Council’s Ability to Legitimize the Use of Force. International Organization 59(3), 2005, pp. 527-557. | ||||||||
| 11 | - Thakur R. Pacific settlement, collective security and international peacekeeping. In: Thakur R. The United Nations, Peace and Security. Cambridge University Press, 2006, pp. 27-47. | ||||||||
| Other Information Sources | |||||||||
| 1 | - TOP 100 NGOs. In: https://www.ngoadvisor.net/top100ngos/ | ||||||||
| 2 | - The European Convention on Human Rights. Available: http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Convention_ENG.pdf | ||||||||
| 3 | - Election Observation Handbook. OSCE/ODHIR, 2010. In: http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/70293?download=true | ||||||||
| 4 | - Charter of the United Nations. Available: http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/index.shtml | ||||||||
