POLS319-20S2 (C) Semester Two 2020

International Organisations: The United Nations and Contemporary Challenges

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2020
End Date: Sunday, 8 November 2020
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 24 July 2020
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 25 September 2020

Description

An advanced undergraduate course examining international organisations with a special focus on the contemporary role of the United Nations.

International Organisations have become pivotal actors on the global stage today, addressing pressing concerns such as international public good, trade, environmental challenges, international security, as well as the ever critical issue of world poverty.
This course provides an introduction to the historical and theoretical foundations of International
Organisations by peering into the specific world of International Governmental Organisations. After exploring the literature on International Organisations, the course sets out to dissect two specific International Governmental Organisations as key case studies: a) the United Nations and b) the International Criminal Court.
These two organisations will be discussed as key examples of international governmental organisations’ structures, functions, discourses and politics. These case studies aim to further bring students to reflect on the relevance, effectiveness and practices of International Organisations in our globalising world, as well as the pressing issues of legitimacy that they bring forth.

Learning Outcomes

  • Gain knowledge on the history of international organisations and their multidisciplinary underpinnings (Attributes: 1, 3, 5)
  • Critically reflect on the strengths and failings of the main theories informing the study of international organisations (Attributes: 1, 3, 5)
  • Building on diverse case studies, demonstrate an ability to analyse how a range of socio-political and economic motives impact the efficiency of international organisations (Attributes: all)
  • Bring student to critically reflect on their own viewpoints on global governance and its actors (Attributes: all)
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

      Biculturally competent and confident

      Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

      Engaged with the community

      Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

      Globally aware

      Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

Any 30 points at 200 level from POLS, or
any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA, or
LAWS, GEOG, or
the Schedule V of the BCom.

Timetable Note

In this course, lectures are complemented by weekly readings, as well as a range of participatory methodologies, including group discussions, activities, and a class debate. In short, the teaching
methods leading this course are participatory and therefore students must attend class.

Lecturer

Pascale Hatcher

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Final exam 40% The exam will be in three parts: multiple choice, short answers and a long essay.
In-class forums 50% Students will be asked to prepare two in-class forums. This will involve two 2,000-words essays, as well as taking an active part in the class forums. (25% x 2)
Informed participation 10%

Textbooks / Resources

All the material required for class is available on Learn.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,553.00

International fee $6,750.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All POLS319 Occurrences

  • POLS319-20S2 (C) Semester Two 2020