POL 463 - International Organizations

There is a proliferation of international organizations covering domains from economic regulation to security to political norms. Many of these organizations are well-known including the United Nations, African Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and European Union while others may be lesser known including the Economic Community of West African States, Mercosur, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. These international organizations have varying aspirations ranging from facilitating transactions between states to transnational political unification and federation. The course considers how and why international organizations have proliferated and evolved and their influence on political, economic, and security outcomes. The course will approach the study comparatively by examining the similarities and differences between international organizations and considering the interaction between domestic politics and international organizations, particularly for organizations with political (e.g., democracy and governance) and distributional (e.g., trade) consequences. In addition to organizations comprised of states, the course will also examine the role of international non-governmental organizations.

Satisfies a requirement for the Political Science major.

Prerequisites & Notes
Permission of the instructor.