The aim of the course is to introduce various types of international organizations and assess their functioning in terms of legitimacy and effectiveness. We will start by discussing the concept of global governance and competing theories explaining or critically reflecting on international cooperation. Two sessions will be dedicated to the United Nations and its specific institutions representing different models of decision-making and representation. Then we will move to global economic structures including International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization. Second part of the course will be spent on regionalism and selected organizations, starting from Europe (OSCE, Council of Europe, NATO), America (OAS, NAFTA, Mercosur, CARICOM), Africa and the Middle East (African Union, ECOWAS, LAS) and Asia (ASEAN, ARF, SCO, APEC). Each organization will be introduced and critically assessed, we will also compare regionalism in different contexts to identify the main objectives and mechanisms of cooperation.
- Učitel: Šárka Kolmašová