Introduction to International Organizations

Course code:                  IRS 101

Term and year:               Fall 2026

Day and time:                 Thursday 11:15-14:00

Instructor:                     PhDr. Ing. Radka Havlová, Ph.D.

Instructor contact:         radka.havlova@aauni.edu

Consultation hours:        Thursday 14-15

 

Credits US/ECTS	3/6	Level	Introductory
Length	15 weeks	Pre-requisite	None
Contact hours	42 hours	Course type	Bachelor

1.    Course Description

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 the different ways of preventing and solving such problems through world order mechanisms. These include a system for controlling world events that aims to install political and economic stability and social justice; prospective world government, regional integration and the expansion of international norms and institutions such as the UN, EU, World Bank, IMF, NATO, etc. The course aims to introduce students to the main international actors and explains their interaction and impact on the field of (international?) security, trade, development, monetary and environmental issues and human rights. The course combines conceptual analysis with case studies and real-world examples in order to facilitate the understanding of the potential, limits and effects of international organizations on global development.

2.    Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

·           Understand the history and theory of formation and functioning of international organizations;

·           Understand the workings and decision-making mechanisms of major intergovernmental and non/governmental organizations;

·           Analyze activities and legal acts of international organizations in different fields including security, trade, development, environment, and human rights;

·           Think critically and to provide possible solutions to  present problems connected to the work of international organizations;

·           Evaluate the effectiveness of different international organizations and to assess their impact in international relations;

·           Discuss the possibilities of further development of international organizations in the context of globalization.

 

 

3.    Reading Material

Required Materials

·         Blessing, Jason, Katherine K. Elgin and Nele M. Ewers-Peters (2021). NATO 2030: Towards a New Strategic Concept and Beyond, John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

·           Gutner, Tamar (2024). International Organizations in World Politics. 2^nd edition, Los Angeles: Sage

·           Hurd, Ian (2024). International Organizations: Politics, Law, Practice. 5^th ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

·           Karns, Margaret (2023). International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance. 4th ed. Boulder; London: Lynne Rienner

·           Lopez-Claros, Augusto, Arthur Dahl and Maja Groff (2020). Global Governance and the Emergence of Global Institutions for the 21st Century, Cambridge University Press

·           Nye, J. (1074). Multinational Corporations in World Politics, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 153.175

·           Palmer, D. (2019). NATO´s post-Cold War “out-of-area” pivot (1990-2014), NATO Defense College

·           Pease, Kely-Kate S. (2015). International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the Twenty-First Century. 5th ed. New York: Longman

 

Recommended Materials

·         Acharya A. (2021). ASEAN and Regional Order: Revisiting Security Community in Southeast Asia. Routledge.

·         Beck M. (2015). The End of Regional Middle Eastern Exceptionalism? The Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council after the Arab Uprisings, Democracy and Security, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 190–207.

·         Gwatiwa, T. (2022). The African Union and African Agency in International Politics. Palgrave.

·         Remler, P. (2021). The OSCE as Sysiphus: Mediation, Peace Operations, Human Rights. Instituto Affari Internazionali.

·         Weiss and Wilkinson (2023). International Organizations and Global Governance, 3rd ed., Routledge

 

For all recommended reading see the list in MyLearning

 

Relevant podcasts related to international organizations:

·           United Nations: United Nations Podcasts - United Nations Western Europe

·           World Bank (Development podcast): International Economic Development | The Development Podcast

·           World Trade Organization: WTO | WTO podcast: Let's Talk Trade

·           European Union: |: Podcasts | |

·           European Journal of International Law: EJIL: The Podcast! – EJIL: Talk!

·           Council of Foreign Relations: Podcasts | Council on Foreign Relations (choose an episode relating to international organizations)

·           Multinational corporations /RSS): Multinational Corporations in the West #074 | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

·           Human Rights Watch: Rights & Wrongs | Human Rights Watch

4.    Teaching methodology

Each class will begin with a class discussion related to the session’s topic. Students will be asked to discuss questions related to the topic in smaller groups and later a class discussion on those questions will be held. A short explanation by the instructor will follow but most of the classes will be taught in the form of a seminar. The students are required to read the assigned weekly material prior to each class in order to participate actively in discussions. They also need to follow websites of key international organizations covered in the course and the latest international news concerning them.

 

The classes will be interactive and all concepts and terms will be explained via concrete examples. Each class will be supplemented by case studies of recent international events giving the students an opportunity to critically analyze the concrete actions of international actors and to understand their role in the functioning of international organizations. Students will also participate in a fieldtrip to the UN information center to deepen student knowledge of the UN. A guest lecture to EU will help students to understand the challenges connected with working for an international organization.

 

5.    Course Schedule

Date	Class Agenda
Session 1 3.9.2026	Topic: Major actors in international relations and the position of international organizations in the international system Description: Introduction to the course, explanation and assignment of research projects, introduction to the major actors in international relations and the position of international organizations among other international actors (states, individuals etc.). Reading: Gutner, 5-11, Pease, 1-20. Assignments/deadlines: Select one research topic from the list in MyLearning and sign up for the corresponding presentation slot. The same topic will form the basis of the presentation and seminar paper. Preparation for all sessions: Complete the assigned reading before class and come prepared to discuss its main arguments and questions.
Session 2 10.9.2026	Topic: Theoretical approaches to international organizations, history of international organizations, globalization Description: Introduction to the main theoretical approaches to the international organizations:  realism, liberalism, feminism, and Marxism. History of international organizations, exploring the link between international organizations and globalization Reading: Karns 43-73, Gutner 13-27, Pease 1-37, Bennett 20-38 Assignments/deadlines: none
Session 3 17.9.2026	Topic: Types of international organizations: international governmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, multinational corporations and international trade organizations Description: Division of international organizations into governmental and non-governmental, similarities and differences, main areas of interest of each type of international organizations, multinational corporations and international trade organizations, and their role in our contemporary world Reading: Karns 379-424 Assignments/deadlines: Research proposals due via MyLearning by 23:59 (research topic analysis in 200 words, at least 5 research sources). See Section 7 for full requirements and assessment criteria.

 

 

Session 4 replacement	Topic: Global international organizations: United Nations - history, structure Description: Global cooperation before the UN (League of Nations), history of the United Nations, main UN bodies (General Assembly, Security Council, International Court of Justice), their competencies, functions, composition and role in the UN system Reading: Gutner 35-66, Lopez-Claros pp. 81-106, 131-144 Assignments/deadlines:  none
24.9.2026	No session Professional training outside AAU, class will be replaced online based on agreement with students
Session 5 1. 10.2026	Topic: Global international organizations: United Nations – specialized agencies Description: Specialized agencies of the United Nations (WTO, IMF, World Bank, UNESCO and other organizations), their role, achievements and problems in the contemporary world. UN approaches to conflict resolution, the role of the UN Security Council in conflict resolution Reading: Hurd 109-167, Lopez-Claros pp. 293-308, 337-359, UN Charter; www.un.org Assignments/deadlines: none
Session 6 8.10.2026	Topic: Global international organizations: United Nations – conflict resolution – field trip to the UN center in Prague Description: UN approaches to conflict resolution, the role of the UN Security Council in conflict resolution Reading: Lopez-Claros pp. 145-180 Assignments/deadlines: none
Session 7 15.10.2026	Topic: Global international organizations: United Nations - global challenges  Description: The United Nations role in the contemporary world, the UN approach to contemporary challenges – environmental issues, human rights, migration, etc. Reading: Lopez-Claros pp. 208-235, 236-263, 264-290, 360-378, 379-388, www.un.org Assignments/deadlines: none
Session 8 22.10.2026	Mid-term exam Description: Mid-term revision, students must demonstrate their understanding of topics covered in the first half of the semester (Sessions 1 through 7). Mid-term will be in a freeform essay of 800 words, taken in class from 1130 till 1400, submitted via MyLearning. See Section 7 for full requirements and assessment criteria. Reading: all readings up to now
29.10.2026	Mid-term break No classes

 

 

Session 9 5.11.2026	Topic: International security organizations: NATO, OSCE Description: Main international organizations active in the area of security (NATO, OSCE) and their approach to conflict resolution Reading: Karns 169-195, Palmer 1-19, www.nato.int, www.osce.org Assignments/deadlines: Critical essay due by 5.11.2026 23:59 via MyLearning. See Section 7 for full requirements and assessment criteria.
Session 10 12.11.2026	Topic: European Union Description: History, structure and activities of the European Union, EU’s approach to conflict resolution, migration, human rights, common foreign and security policy, common market and financial cooperation Reading: Karns 169-195, https://european-union.europa.eu/, Lopez-Claros pp. 65-78 Assignments/deadlines: none
Session 11 19.11.2026	Topic: Other regional organizations in Europe Description: Other regional organizations in Europe (V4, EFTA…) and their role in the contemporary world Reading: Karns 169-195 Assignments/deadlines: none
Session 12 26.11.2026	Topic: Regional organizations in Africa and the Middle East Description: Main international organizations active in Africa and the Middle East, their approach to development, regional problems and conflict resolution Reading: Karns 195-235; www.au.int Assignments/deadlines: none
Session 13 3.12.2026	Topic: Regional organizations in Asia and America Description: Main international organizations active in Asia and America, their approach to development, regional problems and conflict resolution Reading: Karns 195-235; www.oas.org, www.mercosur.int, www.asean.org Assignments/deadlines: Seminar papers due 3.12.2026 23:59 via MyLearning. See Section 7 for full requirements and assessment criteria.
Session 14 10.12.2026	Topic: International organizations and global governance Description: Final discussion of the role of international organizations in the emerging new world order, the role of international organizations in global governance Reading: Lopez-Claros pp. 431-490, Karns 379-424, 573-593 Assignments/deadlines: deadline for late submissions of seminar papers. See Section 7 for full requirements and assessment criteria.

 

6.    Course Requirements and Assessment (with estimated workloads)

 

Assignment	Workload (hours)	Weight in Final Grade	Evaluated Course Specific Learning Outcomes	Evaluated Institutional Learning Outcomes*
Active class participation	42	20%	·      Regular and active participation ·      Ability to analyze and to effectively discuss the possibilities of further development of int. organizations.	1, 2
Research proposal	8	5%	·      Ability to analyze the activities and legal acts of selected int. organizations in different fields including security, trade, development, environment, and human rights	1
Critical essay	28	20%	·      Subject knowledge on the history, theory, purpose and activities of major global and regional int. organizations	1
Mid-term exam	28	20%	·      Subject knowledge on history, theory, purpose and activities of major int. organizations	1
Seminar paper	44	35%	·      Subject knowledge on the history, theory, purpose and activities of major global and regional int. organizations	1
TOTAL	150	100%

*1 = Critical Thinking; 2 = Effective Communication; 3 = Effective and Responsible Action

 

 

7.    Detailed description of the assignments

 

Class participation

Active participation and contribution to class discussion. Students should actively participate in class discussion. Discussions are an important mechanism for developing critical thinking and presentation skills.

 

Assessed area	Percentage
Knowledge and comprehension of the weekly reading assignments	50%
Critical thinking about the issues explored in the readings	50%

 

Research proposal

Students must submit a research proposal of presentation and seminar paper by 17 September 2026 23:59 via MyLearning. The proposal must include the chosen research topic, research question, research structure and at least 5 reliable academic resources which the students plan to use in their presentation and seminar paper. Research proposals should be 200 words long. Late submissions will not be accepted; students who do not submit by the deadline will receive 0 points for the research proposal. The only exception is for students who officially join the class after the beginning of the semester, who should contact the instructor promptly to arrange an individual deadline.

 

 

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Timely submission of presentation through MyLearning	50%
Contents of presentation and seminar paper proposal: research question, structure, at least 5 reliable resources	50%

 

 

Critical essay

Short analytical essay on selected UN or international organization topic. Students will critically respond to a conceptual or real-world challenge introduced in the first four weeks. The goal is to assess students´ ability to apply theory, construct arguments and use relevant examples or cases. Emphasis on argumentation, use of course concepts, clear structure and use of reliable sources. Students choose one of four critical questions based on the materials covered in weeks 1 to 5. Length 800 words, submitted by 5 November 2026 23:59 via MyLearning. Late submissions will NOT be accepted.

 

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Clear thesis and coherent structure	20%
Depth of critical argumentation, critical thinking	30%
Use of course concepts and terminology	20%
Quality and relevance of examples	20%
Language, grammar, referencing	10%

 

 

Mid-term exam

Mid-term exam will cover the topics from the first half of the semester. Students have demonstrated that they have a good understanding of the most relevant issues and concepts and that they are able to provide swift and correct answers. The mid-term will have  a form of a freeform essay of 800 words and will take place online via MyLearning. Students will choose one of three comprehensive questions covering the topics discussed in the first half of the semester. The mid-term will take place on 22 October 2026 from 1130 till 1330 at AAU. However, students will take the mid-term exam in MyLearning (online) while sitting in the classroom.

 

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Ability to correctly evaluate the main purpose of each question	50%
Ability to reflect broader context of each question	20%
Critical thinking	20%
Ability to provide correct answers under the time limit	10%

 

 

Seminar Paper

Students should prepare a seminar paper on the topic of their presentation to understand the analyzed topic in more depth. Seminar papers should be 2000 words, not including footnotes, bibliography and the title page and should fulfill all criteria imposed on an academic paper (formal arrangement of the paper, reference to resources, research question and analysis of the research question etc.). Chicago citation style must be used. At least 10 reliable sources must be used for the seminar paper. Seminar papers will be checked for plagiarism and use of AI, students should present their own critical reflection of the selected research topic. Seminar paper must be submitted by 3 December 2026 23:59 via MyLearning. Late submissions will be accepted but one point will be taken off from the assessment for each day of delayed submission. Seminar papers will not be accepted after 10 December 2026 23:59.

 

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Formal academic presentation and correct Chicago citation style	10%
Reference to resources	15%
Language, stylistics	10%
Research question, analysis of research topic	45%
Critical thinking	20%

 

 

8.    General Requirements and School Policies

General requirements

All coursework is governed by AAU’s academic rules. Students are expected to be familiar with the academic rules in the Academic Codex and Student Handbook and to maintain the highest standards of honesty and academic integrity in their work. Please see the AAU intranet for a summary of key policies regarding coursework.

Course specific requirements

There are no special requirements or deviations from AAU policies for this course.