Fall 2021 - POL 346 D100
International Organization (4)
Class Number: 4257
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2021: Fri, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby -
Exam Times + Location:
Dec 20, 2021
Mon, 10:00–10:00 a.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Tyler Chamberlain
chamberl@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An examination of the structures and processes and the main substantive decisions of the United Nations and related international organizations. Based upon in-depth study of the UN Charter, the Security Council, General Assembly, Secretary-general and Secretariat and their constitutional and political interactions since 1945, with special attention to the theory and practice of international organization advanced by the principal Western countries, the Soviet Union and Soviet bloc, the People's Republic of China and leading Third World countries.
COURSE DETAILS:
We live in a globalized world. Problems which at one time might have remained local in scope have increasingly far-reaching effects. The 2008 collapse of the US housing market had a devastating impact on markets around the world; in November 2015 130 people were killed in Paris by a band of terrorists affiliated with ISIS, whose grievances can be traced to political instability in Iraq and Syria as well as the foreign policies of western nations. More recently, the Covid-19 pandemic underscored how interconnected our world truly is.
In response to the nature of political problems in such a world, nation-states stand to benefit from harmonizing their policies and ensuring methods of continued cooperation. However, despite this pressure to cooperate, the timeless insight of realism holds sway: in an anarchic world with no global authority to protect individual states, cooperation seems like a risky move, insofar as it requires states to trust the intentions of others. The desirability of increased cooperation between states is sometimes offset by the difficulties inherent in such cooperation, either through bilateral agreements or international regimes.
We are currently undergoing a period in which the difficulties of international organization are given renewed emphasis by some world leaders, who have begun to posit a zero-sum relationship between their national interest and the interests of other states. “America First,” Brexit, and rising tariffs are evidence of a growing unease with what has been called the “Liberal International Order.”[1]
This course will examine some of the issues pertaining to global governance and inter-state cooperation from the perspective of a variety of competing theories of international relations. We will examine theories and explanations of global governance and international cooperation, before turning to a few specific issues in global politics. We will pay special attention to the institutional nature of the United Nations, as well as competing theories of its role in international affairs.
[1] Deudney, Daniel and G. John Ikenberry (1999) “The Nature and Sources of Liberal International Order,” Review of International Studies 25:2, pp. 179-196; Richard N. Haas, “Liberal World Order, R.I.P.,” published online by The Council on Foreign Relations: https://www.cfr.org/article/liberal-world-order-rip.
Grading
- Reading of required materials and class participation 10%
- Book Review 15%
- Model UN 20%
- Essay 25%
- Final Exam 30%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Hanhimāki, Jussi M. (2015). The United Nations: A Very Short Introduction, 2nd edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0190222703
Chapnick, Adam (2020). Canada on the United Nations Security Council: A Small Power on a Large Stage, UBC Press. ISBN: 9780774861625
All other readings are available online through the SFU library or will be made available on Canvas.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2021
Teaching at SFU in fall 2021 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with approximately 70 to 80 per cent of classes in person/on campus, with safety plans in place. Whether your course will be in-person or through remote methods will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes. You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).
Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required. You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.
Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the fall 2021 term.