The United Nations: Review and Reform

This subject is not offered in 2014.

This subject will also run a full-day seminar on a Saturday for a model meeting of the UN General Assembly. Attendance at this day-seminar is not compulsory.

Politics and International Studies at Undergraduate level

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The subject will examine various dimensions of the conflict between national sovereignty and international interdependence which impinge on the nature and institutions of global governance. It will extend students' knowledge of the diversity of the forms of international governance, and of the purposes, activities, styles of work and governance of international institutions. The subject will explore the rationale and functioning of existing institutions, attempt a rigorous assessment of their effectiveness, of proposals for their reform, and of the gaps in institutional arrangements. Particular attention will be given to the sources of conflicts underlying their difficulties in making decisions and taking action. On completion of the subject students should be better able to discern the forces operating in global institutions, the means through which they work, and to effectively discuss alternative possible reforms.

On completion of this subject students should:

• Enable gaining of thorough knowledge of the conflict between national sovereignty and international interdependence which impinge on the nature and institutions of global governance;
• Increase understanding of the diversity of the forms of international governance and the means by which they contribute to the international rule of law, peaceful resolution of conflict, economic and social development, environmental responsibility, and implementation of human rights;
• Enable discernment of the forces operating in global institutions, the means through which they work, and evaluation of alternative possible reforms.

An essay of 1000 words (20%) due mid-semester, and two x 2000 word essays (40% each) one due end semester and the other due in the examination period. Students who recieve H2A or higher for the first essay will be given the option to submit a 4000 word essay (80%) in place of the 2 x 2000 word essays, due in the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Thomas G. Weiss and Ramesh Thakur, 2010, Global Governance and the UN: An Unfinished Journey, Bloomington, Indiana UP

Paul Kennedy, The Parliament of Man: The Past, Present, and Future of the United Nations, Random House, New York, 2006

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should:

• Be able to apply research skills and critical methods to a field of inquiry;
• be able to develop persuasive arguments on a given topic;
• be able to communicate oral and written arguments and ideas effectively and articulately.