Undergraduate Course: International Organisations (PLIT10189)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course examines how international organisations (IOs) shape contemporary global politics, from the UN and the WTO to regional bodies like the EU, Mercosur and the African Union and more specialized agencies. Through comparative analysis, diverse theoretical frameworks and an appreciation of distinct global (and non-Western) perspectives, we explore why actors create IOs, how institutional design affects their behaviour, and what determines their success or failure in addressing global challenges. |
| Course description |
International Organisations (IOs) have become central actors in global politics, shaping economic integration, human rights, climate action, and security cooperation. This advanced course examines the design, evolution, and impact of IOs in contemporary world politics. We explore theoretical debates about why states create IOs, how institutional design affects organizational behaviour, and when international cooperation succeeds or fails. Students will engage with core questions about global governance: How do power dynamics shape institutional outcomes? When do organisations command legitimacy or face criticism? What explains variation in effectiveness across policy domains? What happens when IOs lose their legitimacy?
The course adopts an issue-based approach, examining how multiple IOs address global challenges across key policy areas. After establishing foundational knowledge of major institutions like the UN and EU, we investigate how different organisations tackle common problems in human rights, trade, security, climate governance, and development. This comparative lens shows patterns of institutional cooperation, competition, and forum shopping while incorporating analysis of regional bodies like the African Union, Arab League, Mercosur and the Association of South East Asian Nations, specialized agencies like the International Criminal Court, and innovative governance models like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. By examining how diverse IOs respond to the same challenges, students develop an understanding of polycentric global governance, regime complexes, and institutional effectiveness. The course combines IR theory with empirical case studies, preparing students to analyse institutional change and evaluate the future of multilateralism in academic and policy contexts.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least four Politics/IR courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). Only university/college level courses will be considered. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyse the institutional design and governance structures of international organisations across different policy domains.
- Critically evaluate theoretical frameworks explaining IO emergence, evolution, and effectiveness.
- Assess cooperation and competition patterns among IOs, including their authority and legitimacy challenges.
- Compare institutional effectiveness across issue areas and demonstrate how organisational features influence outcomes.
- Formulate evidence-based arguments about how IOs collectively address transnational challenges.
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Reading List
Acharya, Amitav (2018) Constructing Global Order - Agency and Change in World Politics. Cambridge University Press.
Braveboy-Wagner, Jacqueline Anne (2009) Institutions of the Global South. Routledge.
Hurd, Ian (2024) International Organizations - Politics, Law, Practice. Cambridge University Press.
Cogan, Jacob Katz / Hurd, Ian / Johnstone, Ian (2016) The Oxford Handbook of International Organizations. Oxford University Press.
McCormick, John (2024) International Organizations. Bloomsbury.
Reinalda, Bob / Louis, Mareike (2025) Routledge Handbook of International Organization. Routledge. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Create, identify, and evaluate options in order to solve complex problems.
Capability to evaluate information thoroughly; identifying assumptions, detecting false logic or reasoning and defining terms accurately in order to make an informed judgement.
Analyse facts and situations and apply creative thinking to develop the appropriate solutions.
Conduct research and enquiry into relevant issues through research design, the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, synthesising, and reporting.
Recognise and address ethical dilemmas, social responsibility, and sustainability issues, applying ethical and their own/organisational values to situations and choices. |
| Keywords | international organisations,regional integration,international cooperation,regimes,institutionalism |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Benjamin Martill
Tel: (0131 6)51 1736
Email: benjamin.martill@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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