International Organizations

3 units

This course examines the role of major international organizations in the modern world--the UN, EU, NATO, IMF, WTO, MERCOSUR, and others. We explore the background for the creation of these organizations, the purposes they serve, and those whose interests they promote. We also consider how they adapt and evolve over time. Our survey centers on three broad areas of investigation: first, we examine how international organizations promote and maintain international security. Second, we consider organizations designed to regulate and promote economic growth and development. This entails a focus upon the process of globalization and the challenges presented in an era of heightened economic interdependence. Finally, we examine growing efforts at regional cooperation though the emergence of organizations such as NAFTA, the EU, and MERCOSUR.