Political Science 4609 International Organizations
Dr. Noha Bakr
Fall 2016
Class hours: 8:30-9:45Mon Thurs
Class: WALEED C127 Waleed
Office Hours: Thursday10-12 or by email appointment
Office Location: 2027
Means of Contact:
Course Description
This seminar examines the structure and evolution of international organizations, both inter-governmental, and nongovernmental, with an emphasize on the United Nations system, its specialized agencies, in relation to recent issues of global governance.
Course Objectives:
The aim of this course is to provide an intellectual challenge to academically able students by engaging with stimulating mostly up to date material in the International Organizations field. The material addresses a number of key concepts as well as normative issues.The course provides an analytical insight into the relationship between theory and practice; it provides a basis for further study or for careers in diplomacy, international academia, and media.
Course Policies Requirements
I. Free and Critical Thinking
Students are required to read the course readings before each session and be ready to critically engage in class discussion. Students are also encouraged to follow local, national and international political events. In addition, it is crucial that students understand that this class is meant to cultivate and encourage free and critical thinking, and students should not be shy or apprehensive to share their views and opinions with their peers.
II. Assignments
Assignments must be submitted on the dates assigned. Late submissions will incur a decrease of 1 percentage per day. After 5 days, late assignments will NOT be accepted. Students must submit their assignments at the beginning of the class, as those assignments submitted at the end of the class, will be considered as being 1 day late.
III. Academic Integrity Policy
The AmericanUniversity in Cairo adopts a policy of zero-tolerance for cheating, plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Students who fail to meet the highest standards of academic integrity will be severely penalized. You must attribute all ideas, arguments and quotations that you have taken from other sources.
IV. Mobile Phones
Since mobile phones are distracting to the learning experience the use of mobile phones (including SMS) during class is strictly prohibited. Please be sure that your phone is switched off before coming to class.
Grading System
Students will be graded on their: participation, written assignments, and performance on exams.
Class Participation: Students are required to read the course readings before each session and be ready to critically engage in class discussions. Students are also encouraged to follow international events relevant to this course.
Examinations: Students will have a midterm examination which will cover all of the readings and discussion covered until midterm. The final examination will be cumulative but will focus on material covered after the midterm
Research Essays: Students are required to write a double-spaced, 15 pages research essay. Topics should be selected and focused on theoretical and practical studies of international organizations. Students may wish to focus on a specific case study, or undertake a comparative analysis of a specific issue area. The essays must be submitted during the last day of classes.
Assessment
Research Essay 35%
Participation and Attendance15%
Mid-Term Examination25%
Final Examination25%
Total100%
University Grading Scale:
A = 93% and above B+ = 87 - 89.5% C+ = 77 – 79.5%
A- = 90 – 92.5%B = 83 – 86.5% C = 73 – 76.5%
B- = 80 – 82.5% C- = 70 – 72.5% D+= 67 – 69.5%
D= 60 – 66.5%
F= below 60%
Required Text Books and Readings
Books
-Weiss Thomas, Forsythe David, United Nations and Changing World Politics, Boulder: West view Press, 2007.
-Weiss Thomas, Leon Gardenker, NGOs, the UN and Global Governance, London: Lynne Reiner, 1996.
-Ziring Lawrence, Riggs Robert, the United Nations International Organizations and World Politics, 4th(Ed) Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.
Articles
1- Noha Bakr, NATO in Post Cold War Era: Shift of Strategies, Zagreb: NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "The Role of Independent Scientists in Assessing the Threat of WMD". Nov 2008
2-Fassabender Bardo, Uncertain Steps into a Post Cold War: The Role and Functioning of the Security Council after a Decade of Measures Against Iraq, European Journal of International Law, Volume 13 No1, 2002.
3-Rabinder Singh, Alison Macdonald, Legality of the Use of Force Against Iraq, Public Interest Lawyers on Behalf of Peace Rights, September 2002.
4- Smith Anne-Marie, Advance in Understanding International Peace Keeping, United States Institute of Peace, 2005.
5-The United Nations and Counter –terrorism after 11September, British Society of Criminology, Jan2005.
6-Weiss Thomas, Overcoming the Security Council Impasse, dialogue of Globalization, No14/jan2005
7-Weiss Thomas, the Sunset of Humanitarian Intervention? The Responsibility to protect in a Uni polar Era, security dialogue, Vol35, No2, June2004
Web Sites
Course Syllabus
Week No / Topic & Readings1 / Introduction to the Course/ Syllabus
General Discussion on the Theory of UN Collective Security
* Weiss Thomas, The United Nations & Changing world Politics. ch1
2 / UN Historical Evolution
UN Main Bodies/ Subsidiary Bodies
- Activities:
-Students Presentations representing UN 6 main bodies
2-students Role Playing UN Main Bodies & Sub Bodies
3 / Peace Keeping Forces & Concept of Sovereignty
Transformation of Different Generations of Peace keeping
- Smith Anne Marie, Advances in Understanding International Peace
- United Nations Operations: Principles & Guide Lines
Activities: Watching Film on Gender Diversification in Peace Keeping
4 / The United Nations and Counter Terrorism
* Noha Bakr, Kadry Said, Terrorism Egypt Legislative Frame Work, WashingtonDC: US Defense
College, 2008 (Under Publication)
*UN action to Counter Terrorism
Activities: Watching a film on ISIS recruitment
5 / Disbarment &Arm Control/ The UN and Arms Control in the Nuclear Era
*Ziring, Riggs, The United Nations , International Organization & World
Politics(4th Ed) 2005, ch7
*Cross-Cutting Report No. 2
The Security Council’s Role in Disarmament and Arms Control: Nuclear Weapons, Non-Proliferation and other Weapons of Mass Destruction
1 September 2009
6 / UN Performance Post Cold War& UN Reforms,
*Thomas Weiss, , The Illusion of the Security Council Reforms, The Washington Quarterly • 26:4 pp. 147–161.
Activities: Brain Storming Session on Suggestions for UN reforms
Distributing take home exam questions
7 / *Students presenting their Paper topics, outline, literature review, methodology, elaborating on their
intended thesis
*Students submitting take home exam
8 / International Criminal Court
*Rome Statute
Case studies
Activities: Students Role Playing El Beshir, Qadafi, Bashar El Assad in front to ICC
9 / NATO/ What does it do/how does it do it/how does it work/NATO agenda
* Noha Bakr, NATO in Post-Cold War Era: Shift of Strategies, Zagreb: NATO Advanced Research
Workshop on "The Role of Independent Scientists in Assessing the Threat of WMD". Nov 2008
*
-Razoux Pierre The NATO Mediterranean Dialogue at a crossroads, Research Division – NATO
Defense College, Rome - No. 35 – April 2008
Activities
10 / The Arab League/ 3 Councils Functions/Decision making process/Reforms required/Obstacles
for reforms
*Charter
- Marco Pinfari, Nothing but Failure? The Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council, as
- Mediators in Middle Eastern Conflicts, International Relations Department
-Activities: Visit to League of Arab States on a Saturday based on League of Arab states Convenience
11 / The African Union Development & Activities
12 / NGOs
Background Non-governmental Organizations on Development Issues Anup Shah
Activities: Debate on the vitality of NGOs as a civil society tool for development verses as an Intelligence tool
13 / Students Presenting their final papers
1