PAP-21306 International Policies and Institutions

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lecture24
Tutorial3
Group work4
Independent study0
Course coordinator(s)dr. SISE Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen
Lecturer(s)dr. ir. PA de Vries
dr. LKE Dries
dr. ir. O Hospes
dr. SISE Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen
Examiner(s)dr. SISE Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

SDC-10306 Law, Policy and Governance or PAP-10306 Public Administration and Policy Making or PAP-20806 Public Administration and Environmental Law or equivalent.

Contents:

As a result of processes of globalisation, the nation-state is no longer the only actor, level and arena through/in which policy-making takes place to address problems in the field of food security, human rights and sustainable development. The limitations of nation-states to address complex and global problems have led to the rise of an enormous diversity of international and global institutions, consisting of government, business, civil society actors, or a mix of these. This course wants to help students to gain insights into the drivers and diversity of international institutions and to explore their major limitations and challenges in terms of gaining legitimacy and becoming effective-using insights from political science, anthropology and economics. Why? First, the rise and diversity of international institutions has led many academics and practitioners to raise many questions on how to justify their role and on how effective their policies are and for whom. Second, because this world will increasingly require the input, commitment and creativity of future generations of development professionals.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- distinguish different types of international institutions (public, civil society and private) that have emerged to address problems in the field of food security, sustainable development and human rights, and to explain their rise and diversity;
- describe and critically reflect on effects of international institutions and how their role and establishment have been justified, using insights from political science, anthropology and economics;
- characterize different modes of decision-making within and by international institutions and to explain the strengths and weaknesses of these modes;
- develop an argument and proposal indicating which existing or new international institutions and policies have the greatest potential to address transboundary problems in the field of food security, sustainable development and/or human rights.

Activities:

- participation in lectures (obligatory attendance in 70% of lectures and tutorials or additional assignments will be given);
- tutorials (obligatory attendance in 70% of lectures and tutorials or additional assignments will be given);
- group work;
- independent study (self-study module on blackboard).

Examination:

- written test with multiple choice and open questions (70%);
- 3 group assignments (30%).
Each component needs a minimum mark of 5.5 to pass.

Literature:

Book chapters and journal articles will be provided.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: BINInternational Development StudiesBSc2AF
Restricted Optional for: BBNForest and Nature ConservationBScA: Policy and Society2AF
BEBEconomics and GovernanceBSc2AF
MinorPeriod
Compulsory for: WUDPGBSc Minor Development and Policies in a Globalizing World2AF