Fall/Winter Timetable

POL2207H1S L0201

Undergraduate Course Code: POL466H1S L0201

Topics in International Politics III

Theories of International Organization

Themes

After World War I, the League of Nations opened a century of effort to organize and govern a peaceful and prosperous world. Despite the League’s failure, World War II was followed by an explosion in the number, scope, and complexity of international organizations. The United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, for example, now play significant roles in a wide range of policy arenas. Why have international organizations proliferated and expanded since the mid-20th century? How do these organizations shape the global system? Why do states sometimes conduct foreign policy through international organizations, while at other times preferring traditional means? How and why do some international organizations adapt successfully to changing environments over time? What are the principal pathologies and problems of contemporary international organizations? We will examine such questions in the context of contemporary theoretical, historical, and empirical research.

Texts

TBA

Format and Requirements

One two-hour seminar per week. Course requirements TBA.