EDS380 International Organizations

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Katharina Charlotte Laura Glaab

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Course frequency:Biannually in odd years - spring

Nominal workload:250 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in spring parallel, .

About this course

The course gives an advanced, graduate-level introduction to the emergence, expansion and influence of International Organizations, with an emphasis on the post-Cold War period. The course will provide a theoretically informed understanding of the role and work of IOs, and empirical knowledge about contemporary IOs. Drawing on existing literature and debates about IOs as independent agents or instruments for state power, including theories of international bureaucracies, advocacy networks, legitimacy and authority, experts and epistemic communities, IOs as communities of practice, and the (de)politicization of IOs.

Learning outcome

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

Recognize the role and power of IOs in the international order and in governing global politics in different policy fields
Engage critically with academic writing on international organizations
Link conceptual discussions about IOs with current events

Learning activities
The course comprises lectures and seminars. The learning platform Canvas provides details about the individual sessions of the course and the assigned readings.
Teaching support
Office hours and procedures are established at the first meeting of the course. A course schedule will be distributed before.
Prerequisites
General knowledge of international relations and international politics.
Assessment method
Portfolio assessment. The final grade will be assigned at the end of the course and is based on three assignments which must be passed. Grades are on A-E/F scale:
Seminar discussion lead (20%): Prepare and lead one ‘bringing in the news’ session (as a group assignment)
Mid-term exam (40%): Individual three-hour exam about conceptual approaches in IO literature.
Research paper (40%): Individual research paper of 3000 words on a self-defined essay topic.

Portfolio Grading: Letter grades
Examiner scheme
Internal and external examiner. External examiner grades a selection of the papers.
Teaching hours
The course comprises lectures and seminars. Lectures are weekly and last 2x45min. Seminars last 2x45.
Preferential right
M-IR and M-GEP
Admission requirements
Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)