University of Mauritius

International Organisations IREL 3005Y (5)

Module Specification Sheet Code Duration (hrs) IREL 3005Y (5)
Lecture: Three Hours

Title International Organisations

Number of Credits 6

Pre- requisites: None Co-requisites: None Post-requisites: None General Outline and Aims of the Module This unit will be conducted over two semesters and will explore the role of international organizations in shaping contemporary international relations. Throughout the first semester, it will focus on the post war liberal economic system of Bretton Woods and the World Trade Organisation. The unit will provide the opportunity to examine key issues as well as the many contentious facets that surrounds the major inter-governmental institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organisation. During the second part of the semester, the module will look at the United Nations (UN) and its role in addressing global security dilemmas such as international conflict, civil conflict and genocide. As such the unit explores the UN embodiment of collective security and the central concepts and issues related to peace operations. Finally, attention is paid to the idea and problems of UN reform. The Module aims to:
Provide students with a critical understanding on the Bretton

Woods institutions and the opening of the world economy

The system of rules and institutions embedded in the theoretical

and philosophical school of neo liberalism

 Critical awareness on how the US exercises structural power

through the

international regimes

Familiarise students with the Hegemonic Stability Theory Offer students an analysis and review of the role of the World

Trade Organization and the intricacy of multilaterism

Explores the primary mechanism of conflict management used by the UN and examines the central challenges facing todays peacekeepers Look at the implications of reforms proposal of international institutions particularly the United Nations Security Council.

Enhance students skills to research and analyze information from a wide range of sources.

Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this subject, students are expected to have: A political and historical understanding major inter-governmental institutions such as the World Trade Organisation, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund An understanding of concepts such as Hegemonic stability, structural power of the US on international institutions and Dependency theory.
Identify

and discuss of international institutions.

the

major

theories

underpinning

Achieved a critical evaluation of the impact of the World Trade Organisation and the quest for multilaterism. A critical understanding of the contemporary environment in which peacekeepers operate and the major challenges facing todays peacekeepers Report the politicized manner in which international institutions are used.

 Develop the analytical skills necessary to understand how the UN

acts to address global problems such as international conflict, civil conflict and genocide

Module Assessment The module is assessed both through coursework and exams. Course works represent 30 percent of the final mark while exams the remaining 70 percent. The course works will consist of:
One class test (10 percent) The class test will be held on week 15 between 9 am and 10.30 am. It will consist of short answer questions on topics covered during the first semester. One essay (20 percent) Essay Question: Analyse the implications of the rise of China on the international liberal system. Essay length: 2500 words Essay format: Essays should be word-processed, font Times New Roman, 1.5 or double line spacing and size 12. Moreover the essay should be correctly referenced. It is strongly advised that students use the referencing style laid out by the University of Mauritius.1 It is also very important to note that students have to provide a full bibliography, arranged alphabetically by author surname. Note that binding your assignments is not necessary. A simple staple to hold the pages together is enough. Essay deadline: Students should submit their essay on the 24th January 2012 between 9 am and 9.30 am. The date/time at which

you submit the hardcopy of your essay will be deemed to be the formal point of submission. Without a good cause, a deduction of five-percentage point will be levied for every 24 hours after the deadline. Please note that computer problems will not be

Retrieved from http://www.uom.ac.mu/Admissions/Calendar/regulations/MPhilPhd/harvardsys.pdf

1

accepted as grounds for the late submission of essays. Emailing yourself your work will ensure that it is not lost. Method of Teaching Teaching will be by way of weekly lectures held in room XXX (New Academic Complex) on Fridayss between nine and noon. Attending classes is compulsory and will be strictly monitored. Failure to attend classes is a disciplinary offence. According to the University General Regulation for Students, a student will be required to attend regularly lectures, tutorials and other forms of instruction prescribed by her/his scheme of study (normally at least 80 % attendance) and submit written work by the appointed date.2 Discipline is very important for the good functioning of the class. Thus apart from being present to at least 80 percent of lectures, good behaviour in classroom is of the utmost importance. Hence I expect you to keep quiet during the class except when required to speak. Mobile phones should be turned off or placed on silent/ vibrate mode so that to avoid disturbing both the lecturer and fellow students. For more information on expected student behaviour see:
http://www.uom.ac.mu/Admissions/calendar/regulations/CHAP4.pdf

Themes3

Anarchy Realism/Neo realism Balance of Power Liberalism/Neo liberalism Regime Theory Hegemonic Stability Theory Reciprocity Washington Consensus Structural Adjustment Program Special Drawing Rights WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism Uruguay round Doha Round Dependency theory United Nations General Assembly and Security Council Vetoing Troika of peace missions
2

Retrieved from http://www.uom.ac.mu/Admissions/calendar/regulations/CHAP2.pdf Course schedule and content are subject to change.

UN Reform Reading List Morgenthau Hans (1985), Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace, New Delhi: Kalyani Publishers Kenneth Waltz (1979), McGraw-Hill Theory of International Politics, Boston:

Mearsheimer John (1995), The False Promise of International Institutions, International Security Vol. 39 No.3, pp. 5-49 Keohane Robert (2005), After Hegemony: Cooperation and Discord in the World Political Economy, New Jersey: Princeton University Press Keohane Robert (1985), International Institutions and State Power: Essays in International Relations Theory, San Francisco: Westview Press Keohane Robert and Martin Lisa (1995), The Promise of the Institutionalist Theory, International Security Vol. 20 No.1, pp.39-51 Kindleberger Charles (1973), The World in Depression 1929-1939, London: Allen Lane Gilpin Robert (1981), War and Change in World Politics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Wendt Alexander (1999), Social Theory of International Politics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (especially Chapter 6) Tharoor Shashi (2003), Why America Still Needs the United Nations, Foreign Policy Vol.82 No. 5, pp. 67-80 Fox Hazel (1997), The Changing Constitution of the United Nations, London: British Institute of International and Comparative Law (especially chapters 4 and 5) Kuziemko IIyana and Eric Werker (2006), How Much is a Seat on the Security Council Worth? Foreign Aid and Bribery at the United Nations, Journal of Political Economy, Vol.114, No.5, pp. 905- 930. Weiss Thomas (2003), The Illusion of UN Security Council Reform, The Washington Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp.147-161.

Dag Hammarskjold Foundation Occasional Paper Series (2008), The Quest for Regional Representation: Reforming the United Nations Security Council, Critical Current No.4 Alavi Amin (2007), African Countries and the WTOs Dispute Settlement Mechanism, Development Policy Review Vol.25 No.1, pp. 25-42

Useful Websites www.un.org www.wto.org www.imf.org www.worldbank.org www.globalpolicy.org www.brettonwoodsproject.org www.wdm.org www.tradeobservatory.org www.unctad.org www.foreignpolicy.com www.foreignaffairs.com www.lemonde.fr www.guardian.co.uk Contact Details Ben Moutou Email: lgmou2@gmail.com Office: Engineering Tower Phase 1 (1.10) 1. IR; The new world of International Relations, 6thedition Michael G Roskin; Nicholas O. Berry Chapter 1 Pearson, Prentice Hall 2. International relations: the world community in transition; 3rd Revised edition Norman Dunbar Palmer and Howard Cecil PerkinsThe Balance of power Page 211 - 236 AITBD Publishers and Distributors 3. International Politics: Enduring Concepts and Contemporary Issues Robert J. Art (Author), Robert J. Jervis (Author) Part 1 Page 1 - 69 Pearson Longman

4. International Politics: Enduring Concepts and Contemporary Issues Robert J. Art (Author), Robert J. Jervis (Author) Hegemony in the World Political Economy (Robert Keohane) Page 298 - 309Pearson Longman Please also refer to Jstor for articles pertaining to the topics for example 'Jefferson, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Balance of Power Author(s): Lawrence S. Kaplan Source: The William and Mary Quarterly, Third Series, Vol. 14, No. 2 (Apr., 1957), pp. 196-217 is a good read.