166-551 Governance & International Institutions

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in political science, or postgraduate programs in political science.

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, 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.

• have improved their analytical capacity in addressing complex issues of global governance;

• be able to write persuasively about conceptual and normative aspects of international political and institutional issues;

• be prepared for active engagement in this area of international public life.

Three essays: the first of 1000 words worth 20% (due in the fifth week of the semester), the second of 2000 words worth 40% (due in the ninth week of the semester), the third of 2,000 words worth 40% (due at the end of the semester). Each essay will be on a specific issue relating to global governance. Students will be expected to discuss their proposed subject with the lecturer.

• Inge Kauls et al (Eds), Providing Global Public Goods: Managing Globalization. OUP, New York, 2003.
• John Langmore, Dealing with America: the UN, the US and Australia. UNSW, Sydney 2005.
• Deepak Nayyar, Governing Globalization: Issues and Institutions. OUP, Oxford 2002.
• Lawrence Ziring, Robert E, Riggs and Jack C. Plano, The United Nations: International Organization and World Politics.