Instructor: Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo
Office Hours:
                        Monday 11:00a.m.-12:00 noon.
                        Tuesday: 11: 00a.m.-12:00 noon
                        Thursday: 2:00 00-5:00 p.m.
Cleveland 108
Telephone 364-3220

Required Books

-Charles W. Kegley, Jr. Controversies in International Relations Theory:  Realism and the Neoliberal Challenge, New York, St. Martin’s Press, 1995.

-Karen A. Mingst P. Karns, The United Nations in the Post-Cold War Era: Dilemmas in World Politics, COLO, Boulder: Westview Press, 2000.

-Clive Archer, International Organizations, (second edition), London and New York, Routledge, 1992.

A. Le Roy Bennett, International Organizations: Principles and Issues, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1977. (on reserve in the Library).

Recommended Books for Further Readings

-F. T. Liu, United Nations Peacekeeping and the Non-Use of Force, Boulder and London, Lynne Rienner Publisher, 1992.

-Barry B. Hughes, Continuity and Change in World Politics: The Clashes of Perspectives, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1992.
 
-James N. Rosenau, The United Nations in a Turbulent World, Boulder and London, Lynne Rienner Publisher, 1992.
 

Course Description

In this course we will critically examine the origins, goals, structures, and problems of international organizations with a specific focus on the role of the United Nations, its related agencies and programs.  The main objective is to understand how international organizations function and their underlying political and philosophical assumptions.

Requirements:

-Attendance and active participation in all class activities are required.  They will count for 10 % of the total grade.

-Any unjustifiable absence will be penalized.

-A mid-term exam will be due on March 14, 2002.  It will count for 20 % of the total grade.

-Each student will write a critical review of four pages typed double space of chapters 3 and 4 of Charles W. Kegley, Jr.’s book on Controversies in International Relations Theory:  Realism and the Neoliberal Challenge, New York,  St. Martin’s Press, 1995.  The paper is due on April 2. It will count for 10 % of the total grade.

-Each student will write a short paper of between 10 and 12 pages typed double space including footnotes and bibliography.  It will count for 20 % of the total grade

The title of the paper is: "Discuss comparatively the role of the United Nations and its constraints in trying to find solutions to the conflicts in Bosnia and Somalia." The United Nations' assumptions, data, and your own understanding should support your claims and arguments.

-Each student will make a class presentation of about 10-15 minutes.  The topic of the presentation will be on any current issue of the role of the United Nations and its agencies that were not fully discussed.  We should agree on the topic in advance.  This will count for 20 % of the total grade.  Class presentations will be between May 7 and 9, 2002.

Final Exam is due on Thursday, May 16, 2002 (7:00p.m.-10:00 p.m.).  It will count 20% of the total.

SCHEDULE:

2/5-A General discussion: issues, requirements and books

2/7-International Relations at the end of the Cold War: Issues and Predictions
Controversies in International Relations Theory, chapter 14.

2/12-Definitions and Concepts of International Organizations
International Organizations, (second edition), chapter 1.

2/14-Discussion on the Classification of International Organizations
International Organizations, (second edition), chapter 2.

2/19-Various Views of International Organizations
International Organizations, (second edition), chapter 3.

2/21-Various views of International Organizations
International Organizations (second edition), chapter 3.

2/26-Role and Function of International Organizations
International Organizations, (second edition), chapter 4.

2/28-Basic Issues and Principles of the United Nations
The United Nations in the Post-Cold War Era, chapter 2.
pp. 16-45.

3/5-International Relations and the Global Future
Controversies in International Relations Theory:  Realism and the Neoliberal Challenge,
Chapter 14.

3/7-Continuation on International Relations and the Global Future
Controversies in International Relations Theory:  Realism and the Neoliberal Challenge,
Chapter 14.

3/12-Varieties of regionalism
International Organizations by Bennett, chapter 8.
 

3/14 Midterm exam

Holiday, March 16-24

3/26-Turbulence and Conflicts in World Politics
The United Nations in the Post-Cold War Era, chapters 4.

3/28-Continuation on Turbulence and Conflicts in World Politics
The United Nations in the Post-Cold War Era, chapters 4.

3/30-Peaceful Settlements: Theoretical basis and some historical cases
(Film of 50 minutes on "No Place to Hide")

4/2-Economic and Environmental issues related to in the United Nations
The United Nations in the Post-Cold War Era, chapter 5.

4/4-Continuation on Economic and Environmental issues related to in the United Nations
The United Nations in the Post-Cold War Era, chapter 5.

4/9-The United Nations and Human Rights (Indigenous, Women, etc.,)
The United Nations in the Post-Cold War Era, chapter 6.

4/11-Continuation on The United Nations and Human Rights (Indigenous, Women, etc.,)
The United Nations in the Post-Cold War Era, chapter 6.

4/16-The United Nations and Women’s issues (film facing Tomorrow: UN Women’s Decade and the 1995’s Beijing Conference)

4/18-The United Nations and the world economy
International organizations by Bennett, chapter 10

4/23-The United Nations and the issues of Social Progress such as education, health, human rights, labor, science,
International organizations by Bennett, chapter 11.

4/25-Continuation on The United Nations and the issues of Social Progress such as education, health, human rights, labor, science,
International organizations by Bennett, chapter 11.

4/30-Conclusion: Future of the United Nations
The United Nations in the Post-Cold War Era, chapter 7.

5/7-Class Presentations

5/9-Class Presentations
 

Final Exam May 16, 2002 (7:00 p.m.-10: 00 p.m.).