Institutions of Global Governance

The objective of the course is to provide students with in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of international organizations (IOs), their roles and functions in international politics. We will ask questions such as why states create IOs, whether these organizations are autonomous players in international politics or mere instruments of powerful states, and whether they make a difference in management or governance of security, economic, environmental, social and other issues facing the international system of sovereign states? The course consists of three parts. First, we will review different theoretical, analytical, and normative approaches to the study of international organization. Next, we will review specific historical forms of international organization including the nineteenth century\u27s European congress system, functional organizations, and then the twentieth century global collective security organizations, regional economic blocs, and international courts. After the Fall break, we will turn to several contemporary issue-areas in international politics including peace and security, the global economy, development, humanitarian norms and human rights, and the environment. We will examine the roles of key international organizations tasked with governance of a given issue-area, their effects on international politics and limitations