PO3IOG-International Organizations in Global Politics

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Scott Edwards
Email: s.a.edwards@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module introduces students to the study of international organisations. International organisations are key players in global politics. They help states coordinate policies, solve cooperation problems and advance national interests. At the same time, international organisations have become actors in their own right that regulate ever more issue areas and intervene deeply into the domestic realm of states. This has given rise to controversies in academic and policy communities not only over why international organisations exist and whether they matter in international politics, but also over whether they can effectively alleviate global problems and how legitimate they are. The aim of the module is to

1. Discuss the main theoretical and conceptual approaches to the study of international organisations;


2. Examine how international organisations are designed, how they work, and how effective they are;


3. Analyse the major challenges international organisations face – legitimacy problems, politicization, withdrawal – and the ways they respond to these challenges.

Aims:

The aim of the module is to: 

• Discuss the main theoretical and conceptual approaches to the analysis of international organizations; 


• Examine how international organizations are designed, how they work, and how effective they are;


• Analyse the major challenges international organizations face – legitimacy problems, politicization, backlash – and the ways they respond to these challenges.

The module looks at these questions from a theoretical, empirical and normative perspective. by focusing on a set of specific organisations from different issue areas in international politics, such as the United Nations, NATO, the IMF, World Trade Organization, and a number of regional  organizations.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module students are expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the main theoretical approaches to the study of international organisations


• Demonstrate the ability to critically examine the existence, the design, and the operation of important contemporary international organisations through the lens of these theories


• Demonstrate the ability to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness, authority and legitimacy of international organisations from an empirical as well as normative perspective

• To enhance students’ critical and analytical skills through engaging with a diverse and challenging theoretical and empirical literature and to demonstrate these in seminar discussions, presentations, essays and examinations

Additional outcomes:

• Students should also improve research and writing skills


• Improve their abilities to assess written arguments


• Improve their abilities to use systematic empirical evidence to assess theoretical claims


• Improving their understanding of a wide range of aspects relevant to the work of international organisation will be relevant for students seeking an internship or career in these organisations    

Outline content:

Content is indicative and may be subject to minor changes. The module will

• Discuss the major theoretical approaches to the study of international organisations

• Examine their functions of international organisations

• Assess their performance and legitimacy

• This will be done by looking at a set of specific international organisations form different issue areas in international politics, including security, development, economic cooperation and human rights

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module is taught through 9 one-hour lectures and 9 corresponding one-hour classes. In addition, there will be one introductory lecture, and a 1 hour business meeting. In the classes, students will orally present on specified topics, followed by group discussion.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10
Seminars	10
Guided independent study:	180
Total hours by term	200	0	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	70
Oral assessment and presentation	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will write one 4,000 word essay (IO research paper) on a selected topic.   This will account for 70% of the overall module mark. Non-submitted essays will be awarded a mark of zero. Student will also deliver an oral presentation on specified topics (20-25 minutes), which will account for the remaining 30% of the overall module mark.



Visiting students: will follow the same assessment. 

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Candidates who fail their final year normally have the right to be re-examined on one further occasion at the next opportunity. These candidates will not normally be eligible for Honours (ie., only a ‘Pass’ classification would be attainable). Students who are eligible for re-assessment have the right to re-assessment in all elements even if they have previously passed one of those elements. It is expected, however, that the majority of students would probably elect not to repeat an element in which they had already passed, in which case the confirmed marks would be carried forward.



Coursework: Failed or missing coursework should be re-submitted within the advised resit period. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Printing and binding: There may be optional costs associated with photocopying or printing sources listed on the reading list relating to this module. Please note that the Library charges approximately 5p per photocopy.

 

Last updated: 5 September 2023