Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
International Institutions
Course Code
SZF_286
Branch of Science
Political science
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Beāte Livdanska
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
SZF, Kuldigas Street 9C, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To provide basic knowledge regarding the role of international institutions in world politics, principles of their structure and activities in promoting international security, economic and social welfare, protecting human rights, ensuring environmental sustainability.
Preliminary Knowledge
Background knowledge in international political processes in the scope of three semesters of Bachelor studies.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students should learn in the study course: • basic knowledge of the principles, forms and problems of international institutions; • understanding of the various existing approaches to the problems of international institutions; • ability to describe and compare the activities of international institutions in solving specific problems; • understanding of the principles of classification of international institutions according to their structure, principles and directions of operation.
Skills
1.The course will provide skills: • to find one’s way in literature and to distinguish between different approaches to the problems of international institutions; • to analyse the functioning, achievements and weaknesses of international institutions; • to present the results of own work.
Competences
1.Students learn in the study course: • ability to discuss in a reasoned and logical manner the role of international institutions in global politics and their operational problems; • to use academic knowledge to evaluate the activities of certain international institutions; • to use the general principles of operation of institutions for the analysis of the activities of individual institutions; • to write essays and a report as analytical works.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
|
|
Student’s independent work includes:
• reading required readings for each lecture and class;
• preparations for each seminar class;
• preparations for 3 knowledge tests;
• writing individual work (report), its presentation at seminar classes.
To assess the overall quality of the study course, the student must complete the course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
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2.
Individual work |
30.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
The purpose of the report (individual work) is to develop the ability to examine and analyse a problem in depth; to develop the skills to study a problem independently and to give it an evaluation. The report (individual project) provides for three things: • identifying the underlying problem of the topic; • identification and evaluation of alternative arguments and opinions; • raising and justifying your point of view. Students should be able to substantiate their point of view and compare all possible alternatives by considering all their weaknesses and strengths. The purpose of the report is to develop the skills to independently research and evaluate the situation and problem, and to be able to develop options for solving the problem. Report assessment will consist of: 1) presentation of the report (content and visual presentation, attractiveness of presentation); 2) content of the report in written form. The preparation and writing of the report must necessarily be based on the recommended sources (literature and websites), however, to receive an assessment higher than 5, the final written version must be based on 6-20 sources of scientific literature. |
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Examination
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Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
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1.
Examination |
30.00% from total grade
|
10 points
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|
The purpose of the seminar classes provided for in the course is to familiarise students with various aspects of the activities of international organisations, to stimulate discussion and reflection on certain matters, as well as to promote the ability of students to search and collect information on various matters and formulate positions from them within a short period of time. |
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2.
Knowledge test tests (3 pcs) |
20.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
During the course, 3 intermediate tests will be carried out in which a successful assessment will be obtained. The requirements are described in E-Studies. |
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3.
Final examination of the course |
20.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
The examination will be carried out in accordance with the standard described in E-studies. |
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Course requirements. Historical development of international institutions – from the League of Nations to the UN.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Role of international institutions in global politics. Typology and classification of international institutions. Decision-making process, performance, decision-implementing mechanisms. Representation and activities of various actors in IO.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
|
Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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UN system. Principles and problems of operation of UN institutions: General Assembly, ECOSOC and Security Council.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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UN system. Principles and problems of operation of UN institutions: General Assembly, ECOSOC and Security Council.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
|
Role of international institutions in promoting prosperity and economic development. ECOSOC. Bretton Woods Institutions. Great powers in global governance. North/South divide. OECD.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Role of international institutions in promoting prosperity and economic development. ECOSOC. Bretton Woods Institutions. Great powers in global governance. North/South divide. OECD.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Activities of non-governmental actors in international organisations.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Activities of non-governmental actors in international organisations.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Limitations, challenges and problems of international institutions. Case study.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Limitations, challenges and problems of international institutions. Case study.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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International organisations, international security and peacekeeping. Problems of disarmament in UN actions and international arms control regimes.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
|
Topics
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International organisations, international security and peacekeeping. Problems of disarmament in UN actions and international arms control regimes.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
|
Topics
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Development of environmental and human rights policies within international organisations.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Activities of international institutions – summary.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
|
Topics
|
Activities of international institutions – summary.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Simulation
|
-
Test
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Modality
|
Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
|
Topics
|
Simulation
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Visa literatūra ir angļu valodā un piemērota gan latviešu, gan angļu plūsmas studentiem
2.
Margaret P. Karns, Karen A. Mingst. International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance. Boulder, London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2024
3.
Ian Hurd. International organization: Politics, Law, Practise. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2021
4.
Archer, Clive. International Organisations. 4th edition. Taylor and Francis Group, 2015
5.
Mingst, Karen A., and Karns, Margaret P. The United Nations in the 21st Century. 6th edition. Westview Press, 2022
6.
Mingst, Karen A., and Arreguin-Toft, Ivan M. Essentials of International Relations. 9th edition. W.W. Norton & Company, 2021
7.
Carlsnaes Walter, Risse Thomas, et.al. The Handbook of International Relations. 2nd edition. Sage Publications, 2013 (akceptējams izdevums)
8.
Hurd, Ian and Hogan C. Jacob. The Oxford Handbook of International Organizations. Oxford University Press, 2018
9.
Pal, Leslie A., Tok, Evren M. Global Governance and Muslim Organizations. Palgrave Macmillan, 2019
10.
African Foreign Policies in International Institutions. Ed.by Warner, J., Shaw, Timothy W. Palgrave Macmillan, 2018
11.
The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook. Volume 43: 2018. New York, 2019
12.
Fiti Sinclair, Guy. To Reform the World: International Organizations and the Making of Modern States. Oxford University Press, 2019
13.
Bruckmeier, Karl. Global Environmental Governance. Palgrave Macmillan, 2019
14.
Oberleitner, Gerd. International Human Rights: Institutions, Tribunals and Courts. Springer, 2018
Other Information Sources
1.
United Nations
2.
GPF
3.
International Atomic Energy Agency
4.
International Court of Justice
5.
Amnesty International