| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
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To enable students to acquire
• an understanding of the various roles international institutions play in international politics
• an understanding of why international institutions are created, how collectively binding decisions are adopted within international institutions, and how (in)effective international institutions are in fighting global problems such as pandemics and climate change
• the competence to apply theoretical approaches to empirical cases
Topics may include
• introduction to similarities and differences between three different types of international institutions: international regimes (such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), formal international organisations (such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the International Labour Organization), and informal international organisations (such as the G7, the G20, and the BRICS group)
• introduction to key theoretical approaches to the study of international institutions with an emphasis on three guiding questions: why are international institutions created? How are decisions within international institutions adopted? How (in)effective are international institutions in addressing global problems?
• application of the acquired theoretical knowledge to a broad set of international institutions from a wide range of issue areas (such as environmental protection, global health, monetary affairs, human rights, and collective security/collective defence) which will be studied from the angle of the three guiding questions outlined above
Intended knowledge outcomes:
• an understanding of the various roles international institutions play in international politics
• a solid knowledge of the different theoretical approaches to the study of international institutions
• the ability to apply those theoretical approaches to empirical cases
• a deepened knowledge of a set of important international institutions from various issue areas of international politics
• the ability to analyse critically and independently why international institutions are created; how decisions within international institutions are adopted; how (in)effective international institutions are in addressing global problems
• Cognitive Flexibility
• Communication Skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Intellectual skills
• Interpersonal and Communication
• Management of learning
• Planning and Organisation Skills
• Self-management/resilience
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Synchronous online; wk 11: concluding lecture highlighting important cross-cutting points with Q&A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | PiP lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Synchronous online; week 11; lecture on essay (due in January assessment period) with Q&A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Synchronous online; wk1: intro to course requirements, working techniques and course ethos; Q&A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | PIP Seminars; no seminars in week 11; two synchronous online activities instead (see below); |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 11 | 7:00 | 77:00 | Preparation for 11 seminars (2 readings and 2-3 questions per seminar). |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 90:00 | 90:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Lectures provide essential content on
• theoretical approaches to the study of international institutions (first part)
• a broad range of international institutions from various issue-areas of international politics
In both parts, lectures will be addressing three guiding questions:
• Why are international institutions are created?
• How are collectively binding decisions adopted within international institutions?
• How (in)effective international institutions are in fighting global problems such as pandemics and climate change?
Seminars draw upon specialist readings (textbook chapters as well as journal articles) to contextualize and deepen lecture content. They offer an opportunity to explore theoretical and empirical issues in depth and to engage in discussion in a small-group context.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 99 | 1 | M | 40 | 1500 word, 48hr take home exam. |
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 60 | 2500 word essay. |
Module assessment consists of (1) a 1500 word essay, which students will complete within 48 hours at home and (2) a 2500 word essay.
Questions for both assessment will be set by the module leader.
Detailed guidance on the 2500 words essay (worth 60% of the overall mark) will be given in a synchronous online lecture scheduled for week 11.
In completing the assignment, it is expected that students will show the ability to successfully apply theoretical approaches to empirical cases.
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Disclaimer: The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2022/23 academic year. In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described. Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2023/24 entry will be published here in early-April 2023. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.