We hear a lot about international organizations (IOs) like UN, ICC, UNHCR, UNDP, EU, African Union, WTO, IMF, World Bank, NGOs, and so on. This is a course focusing on the development and role of international organizations in world politics. What are these organizations? Why do states establish IOs? Can IOs change states’ behaviors? How effective are IOs? How do they challenge states? This course will try to answer such questions.
The first part of the course will focus on global governance, introducing central concepts and theoretical frameworks to understand IOs and global governance and the history of IOs. IOs will be defined broadly to encompass both intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and various examples of such IOs will be covered in the second part of the course. The dilemma concerning global governance’s effectiveness will also be addressed by focusing on power dynamics, legitimacy, and accountability. The third part of the course will focus on understanding the role of IOs in specific policy domains, especially in relation to security, human rights, trade, finance, development, and environment. Case studies will be used to illustrate real-world examples and enhance understanding of key concepts. Lastly, we will discuss about how the IOs are challenged by the global problems and structures and how they could and should respond in the future.
The first part of the course will focus on global governance, introducing central concepts and theoretical frameworks to understand IOs and global governance and the history of IOs. IOs will be defined broadly to encompass both intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and various examples of such IOs will be covered in the second part of the course. The dilemma concerning global governance’s effectiveness will also be addressed by focusing on power dynamics, legitimacy, and accountability. The third part of the course will focus on understanding the role of IOs in specific policy domains, especially in relation to security, human rights, trade, finance, development, and environment. Case studies will be used to illustrate real-world examples and enhance understanding of key concepts. Lastly, we will discuss about how the IOs are challenged by the global problems and structures and how they could and should respond in the future.
- Teacher: Yonca Ozdemir