International Organizations (INR 3502)

INR 3502, Spring 2004 (jan. 5-April 14)

Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:50-9:05 pm, ZEB 150

Instructor: Marsha B. Cohen (marsha.cohen@fiu.edu), GL-317B

http://mcohen02.tripod.com/intlorgs.html

Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 pm, and by appointment

Course Syllabus

International Organizations

The role of various types of international organizations (IOs) in the international system is often ignored and widely misunderstood. This course will identify different types of IOs and outline their history, development and impact. We will utilize various theoretical approaches to the study of IOs in general to examine specific case studies of how IOs shape global interactions and modify state behavior in specific global issue areas. Readings and class discussions will explore the function and influence of IOs in maintaining international and regional security, as well as in issue areas such as trade, economic development, human rights, and environmental concerns and humanitarian intervention.

Course Requirements:

Students are expected to come to class having completed the assigned readings for the session and prepared to discuss them. Students are strongly encouraged to keep apprised of current world affairs in general and the activities of international organizations in particular by reading newspapers with extensive and intensive coverage of foreign affairs. Many recommended English-language newspapers (Washington Post, New York Times (registration required, which is free), Los Angeles Times, BBC, and numerous British, Canadian, and newspapers from around the world) can be accessed online from the news website

http://mcohen02.tripod.com. It is also highly recommended that students take advantage of numerous lectures on topics related to the course at the university and other course-related campus activities. Many of these will be announced by the instructor and/or posted to the class web page. Students who know of such events are invited to bring them to the attention of the instructor and the class.

A semester-long research project will be required of each student, 10-15 pages in length, that closely examines and monitors the interactions of a student-selected country with various international organizations. Semester projects are due April 7. A link to the Project Instructions will be found on the class website. Please read them carefully.

There will be a Midterm Exam on Feb. 16 and a Final Exam on April 14, the last day of class. These exams will cover material presented in the readings (including online articles), class lectures, discussions and videos.

Evaluation and Grades:

Grading for all assignments will be on a cumulative point system. The maximum number of points that can be earned during the semester, and the grades equivalent to each, are as follows:

500-465 points = A

464-455 points = A-

454-445 points = B+

444-410 points = B

409-400 points = B-

399-355 points = C

354-345 points = C-

345-300 points = D

Below 300 = F

Points will be assigned for:

Semester project: Maximum 200 points

Midterm exam: Maximum 100 points

Final exam: Maximum 100 points

Attendance, Preparation and participation (includes extra credit): Maximum 100 points

At the discretion of the instructor, extra credit for attendance at course-related lectures on and off campus will be announced and encouraged. Students wishing to receive extra credit (5 points per hour) will need to submit a 1-2 page summary of what they learned from the lecture and its relevance to the course. A maximum of 30 extra credit points will be counted towards the semester grade.

Texts :

Assigned readings are from the two textbooks listed below, which are available at the FIU bookstore.

Adam Roberts and Benedict Kingsbury, eds. United Nations, Divided World: the UN's Roles in International Relations. Oxford University Press, 1994.

P.J. Simmons and Chantal de Jonge Oudraat, eds. Managing Global Issues: Lessons Learned. Brookings Institution, Carnegie Institute for International Peace, 2001.

A few additional required readings are available via the internet, which are subject to updating--please check the online course syllabus each weekend when preparing for the following week's classes.

Reading Assignments (to be completed prior to the scheduled classes):

Week 1 (Jan. 5-7) – Introduction, explanation of course requirements. Overview and history of international organizations and other institutions of global governance.

"Timeline to Global Governance"

http://www.sovereignty.net/p/gov/timeline.html

Week 2 (Jan. 12-14 ) The United Nations

The United Nations: Image and Reality, Chapters 1-6

http://www.un.org/geninfo/ir/ref-frame.htm

Roberts and Kingsbury, Chapters 1-2

Week 3 (Jan. 19 Martin Luther King Holiday-no class; Jan. 21). International Security

Roberts and Kingsbury, Chapters 3- 4

Week 4 (Jan. 26-28) Regional Security; Intrastate Conflict

Simmons and Oudraat, Chapter 14

Roberts and Kingsbury, Chapter 7.

Blank, Should NATO Invite the Baltic States?, ISCIP Perspective, Jan./Feb. 2002