Module description
This module introduces students to international institutions and organisations and the theories that try to explain them. The first term focuses on the foundations. How did we end up with the UN system? What other institutions preceded it? After a historical overview, the module examines key questions about these institutions, for example: Are they simply reflections of state power? Do they provide venues where states can agree on the mutually beneficial pursuit of interests? What is the role of norms and ideas in how institutions go about their work? Who is left on the sidelines by how international organisations are designed and operate? Is it possible to address these organization’s legitimacy crises, and if so, how?
The first term explores these key questions through a set of cases, including for example, the UNSC, global financial institutions, and the UNHCR. After grappling with key questions of power, interests and ideas, the second term zeroes in on contemporary challenges. It begins by mapping the changing political and economic terrain of global politics. It introduces students to current issues and challenges around international organisation, for example, institutional gridlock, hegemonic decline, and normative dissatisfaction. Here possible case studies include UNSC reform, the establishment of parallel financial institutions, climate change, and emergent areas of governance, such as AI. In each case, the module introduces students to past and present alternative visions to existing International Organisations. The aim of the module is to give students a comprehensive overview of institutions, theories and challenges of International Organisations that will enable them to reach historically and theoretically informed conclusions on its current challenges.
Assessment details
| Essay |
2000 words |
50% |
| Op-Ed Essay |
2000 words |
50% |
Educational aims & objectives
- Develop an understanding of international institutions and organisations and the theories that try to explain them.
- Develop a historically informed understanding of International Organisations and their challenges, as well as alternative visions.
- Evaluate scholarly debates on the purpose and role of International Organisations in global politics, as well as the sources of their current challenges
Learning outcomes
- Develop an understanding of international institutions and organisations and apply and evaluate the theories that try to explain them.
- Critically reflect on International Organisations and formulate theoretically, historically, and empirically informed opinions on the present and possible future of these organisations.
- Acquire the tools to analyse and communicate about International Organisations in the context of present-day challenges.
- Develop critical analysis skills that involve bringing together theoretical frames with concrete and contemporary cases.
- Become familiar with a range of perspectives in global politics, crucial for future careers in government, diplomacy, international organizations, or international non-governmental organizations.
- Become familiar with the workings and challenges of International Organizations, preparing for careers in foreign policy, IOs, think tanks, or journalism.
- Analyse and communicate about IOs and their contemporary challenges, including through assessments such as simulations, op-eds, and more in-depth essays directly relevant to developing the practical skills needed to work in these environments.
Teaching pattern
The module is taught through weekly lectures and weekly one-hour seminars. Students are expected to attend and take part actively in all lectures and seminars. The discussions in seminars will be student-led and interactive and will involve a range of activities such as debates and simulations. All students should actively contribute to seminar discussions and activities, and they are expected to have read two required readings in preparation for seminars each week.