Document Type

Undergraduate Syllabus

Date

Fall 2023

School

Diplomacy

Course Number

DIPL 2109 AA

Course Description

This course examines the institutions charged with multifaceted roles in governing affairs that range from specific to broader topics of global importance, unraveling their structures, functions, decision-making processes, and impact on international relations. Students engage in critical analyses of the topics and gain in-depth understanding of the roles and functions of key global institutions that work on topics of utmost importance such as economy, security, politics, society, and the environment, among others.

The course will provide an overview of the historical development of the institutions and the changing context of their emergence. Students will explore, through various methods of active learning, how these institutions have evolved over time with a view to responding to the dynamic global needs, and how they work individually and collectively to address a wide span of global issues such as peace and security, economic development, human rights, and environmental sustainability.

Key topics will include theoretical underpinnings of global governance, the role of international law, the influence of state and non-state actors, the complexities, and the challenges involved, and the future of global governance in an increasingly interconnected, yet politically polarized, world.

Emphasis will be given to the ongoing debates surrounding global governance, exploring questions such as: 'To what extent do these institutions uphold or challenge the principle of state sovereignty?'; 'How have these institutions adapted to the shifting dynamics of power in the international order?'; 'Are these institutions representative and accountable to all states, or do they perpetuate power asymmetry?'; 'How effective are these institutions in addressing global challenges and what are the limits of their capacities?'

Through this course, students will gain knowledge about the institutions, and develop critical thinking, research, and writing skills, enabling them to assess the effectiveness of global governance institutions and to formulate their own perspectives.

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