The United Nations: Review and Reform

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 Hours.

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 2000 words (40%) due two weeks after the first intensive teaching weekend.
• An essay of 3000 words (80%) due three weeks after the second intensive teaching weekend.

Hurdle requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, Lecture/Seminar attendance is compulsory for all classes. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Thomas G. Weiss and Rorden Wilkinson (eds) 2014, International Organisation and Global Governance, Abingdon, Routledge

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.