Chapter 1 Introduction to POLI330

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the structure and functions of international political and economic organizations. Particular attention to the United Nations and its specialized agencies, and to emerging regional communities.

We look in depth at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, international courts, and the international financial institutions, as well as other international organizations in comparative terms. Students will learn what the obligations that countries consent to when they join the organization, whether states in practice comply with these obligations, and what powers of enforcement different organizations have.

The course begins with an introduction to competing international organizations theories, levels of analysis, and scientific approach to studying IO’s. Next, we turn our attention to the most influencial internaitonal oraganizations, the United Nations, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, the International Labor Organization, the International Court of Justic, and the International Criminal Court. Next, we examine some emerging regional communities, the European Union, the African Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nation. We end the course by discussing the latest research on international organizations, current challenges and possible futures of internaitonal organizations.

Schedule of Readings and Topics