USESEA014 International Organizations and Regional Conflicts

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Winter 2013
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Lukáš Vomlela, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lukáš Vomlela, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lukáš Vomlela, Ph.D.
Institute of Central European Studies – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Prerequisites
Expert Knowledge:
Students demonstrate the knowledge of fundamental source documents in the area of international relations, dealing mainly with the structure and functions of international organizations. They demonstrate the knowledge of researches up to now, theoretical grounds and their applications on international organizations including their typology. They will be familiarized with academic work centres and institutions that explore the issues of international relations and international organizations. Students understand theoretical approaches, problems and terms used in the area of international relations and the study of international organizations. They are able to define the international organization covered in the course, their activity, functions and roles in contemporary relations. The subject puts the main emphasis on understanding international organizations that function in the conflict and the post-conflict areas.
Expert Skills:
Students are capable of independent critical evaluation of the activity and influence of international organizations in the global politics and, most importantly, they are able to analyze the activity of international organizations. They are able to explain the structure and functioning of contemporary international organizations with respect to historical development of international relations and international organizations themselves. They understand the concepts. They are able to apply theoretical knowledge, to interpret key phenomena related to the development of international organizations and are able to put them into mutual relationships. Students are able to find out and organize relevant information and, based on prescribed methodological, formal and content requirements, are able to write an academic seminar paper on the assigned topic related to the international organizations research.
General Competency:
Students will learn the procedure that complies with methodological, formal and content requirements for writing academic papers.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the subject is to familiarize students with the basic aspects of international organizations with respect to their functions and the sphere of influence. Students will take a closer look at the theoretical background and at the area of operation of international organizations with respect to their functions and aims. Attention will be paid to the development of international organizations as the agents of international relationships, to their historical development and their contemporary state, while the emphasis will be put on the United Nations Organization as a universal and global institution, and further, on specialized international organizations, primarily security organizations, human rights organizations and others. Attention will also be paid to peacebuilding and peacekeeping and the role of international organizations as very important agents in the proces of conflict prevention, trust building and post-war society restoration. Another part of the course is following the latest developments in the world politics with respect to the activity of concrete international organizations. On the completion of the course, students will be knowledgeable in the area of international relations, functioning of international organizations, the problem issues of peacekeeping and peacebuilding and the sphere of influence of international organizations.
Syllabus
  • 1. Subject and character of the field of study, definition and classification of international organizations.
    2. Peacebuilding and peacekeeping.
    3. The history of international organizations (from the first international organizations to the United Nations).
    4. Conflict resolution in the United Nations.
    5. The history and development of international organizations after the World War II
    6. The United Nations Organization.
    7. The UN Peace Missions.
    8. International peace organizations.
    9. The role of international peace organizations in conflict resolution processes.
    10. Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the EU.
    11. International organizations and human rights.
    12. The roles of selected international organizations in the conflict resolution processes.
Literature
    required literature
  • KARLAS, J. Forma mezinárodních institucí: teoretická analýza. Praha: Karolinum, 2008. ISBN 978-80-246-1433-5. info
  • ZOUBEK, V. Lidská práva - globalizace - bezpečnost. Plzeň: Vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, 2008. ISBN 978-80-7380-103-8. info
  • WAISOVÁ, Š. Mezinárodní organizace a režimy. Plzeň: Vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, 2008. ISBN 978-80-7380-109-0. info
  • HASENCLEVER, A. a kol. Teorie mezinárodních režimů. Brno: Centrum strategických studií, 2005. ISBN 80-903333-4-6. info
  • DRULÁK, P. Teorie mezinárodních vztahů. Praha, 2003. ISBN 80-7178-725-6. info
    recommended literature
  • Fakta a čísla OSN. Praha, Informační centrum OSN v Praze, 2005. info
  • CÍSAŘ, O. Transnacionální politické sítě. Brno: Mezinárodní politologický ústav MU, 2004. ISBN 8021035919. info
  • VYKOUKAL, J. Visegrád: možnosti a meze středoevropské spolupráce. Praha: Dokořán, 2003. ISBN 80-86569-34-9. info
  • ARCHER, C. International Organizations. London: Routledge, 1992. ISBN 0415246903. info
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Teacher's information
Credit requirements: During the term, students will write a presentation and a seminar paper on a selected topic. Besides regular reading assignments, active student participation in seminar discussions is expected.
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2014, Winter 2015, Winter 2016, Winter 2017, Winter 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Winter 2013, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fvp/winter2013/USESEA014