Taught Masters Modules: POL6170 - Global Governance

Level: MA
Credits: 30

Description

This module provides an analysis of the theory and practice of contemporary 'global governance'. It begins by considering the various theoretical approaches which can be taken to the study of global governance and proceeds to review ‘what world government we have actually had’ in the 20th century by considering the experience of the League of Nations and the United Nations up to the end of the Cold War. It then addresses the issues of globalisation and global change in general before focusing in turn upon specific issue areas and contemporary sites of global governance, including humanitarian assistance, economic governance, the environment, global health, migration and global security. A central concern is thus the role played in global governance by bodies such as the UN, IMF, the World Bank, WTO, ILO, WHO, IAEA and so on. At the same time, attention is paid where appropriate to regional modes of governance and privatised agencies of governance and particular consideration is given to the apparently increasing significance of 'global' civil society.

Objectives

The module aims to provide an advanced level of understanding of contemporary global governance. By the end of the module students will be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge of the main means by which global governance is practised in the contemporary era.
Apply conceptual tools to assess the various ways in which global governance is presently theorised and implemented.
Demonstrate appropriate cognitive, communicative and transferable skills, including understanding complex concepts and theories, exercising critical judgment, problem-solving skills; making effective oral and written presentations, utilising specialist primary and secondary sources, and deepening the capacity for independent learning.
Write scholarly and grammatically correct essays that are referenced in accordance with established academic practice.

Assessment

Assignment One: 40%
Assignment Two: 60%