POL380H1S L5101

Topics in International Politics

United Nations, Governance, and State-Building

Themes

This course challenges students to reflect on the consequences of the internationalization of many areas of internal governance such as or especially constitution-making – quintessentially a domestic political process. It foregrounds the role of the United Nations and its agencies (including International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in this global governance. Its premise is that the increasing internationalization of internal/domestic governance issues cannot be understood unless it is situated within the broader framework of political, economic, social, and cultural changes associated with globalization. Its key objective is to expose students to a deeper understanding of the history, politics and law of the role of the United Nations in global governance through conceptual literature and case specific studies. Since the past often explains the present, this course will open with a brief review of the League of Nations’ Mandates System and key concepts such as trusteeship and decolonization. Given its contemporary relevance, the topic of the UN (and its agencies including the UNDP and UNIFEM in constitution-making) and its constitutional assistance will receive focal attention in seminar. This course will provide students with a firm foundation for scholarly writing.

Texts

TBA

Format and Requirements

Course evaluation will include two short essays and a final in-class test.

Prerequisites

POL208H1 or POL208Y1 or POL209H5 or POLB80H3