IRS 101 Introduction to International Organizations

The world faces increasingly complex global problems including ongoing armed conflicts, humanitarian crises, economic inequality and instability. The aim of this course is to explore different ways how to prevent and solve such problems through working towards the world order - a system for controlling world events that aims to install political and economic stability and social justice; including the world government, regional integration and expansion of international norms and institutions such as the UN, EU, CoE, WB, IMF, NATO, etc. The course introduces main international actors and explains their interaction and impact on the field of security, trade, development, monetary and environmental issues and human rights. The classes will be interactive and all concepts and terms will be explained on concrete examples. Each class will be supplemented by case studies of recent international events giving the students opportunity to critically analyse concrete actions of international actors and to understand their potentials, limits and effect on global development.