OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide knowledge of the evolutionary processes of the main international and regional organizations of the contemporary era, highlighting progress and limits in light of historical-international events.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the student is able to:

• know history, structure, aims and members of the main international organizations in a globalized system;
• identify causal relationships between historical events;
• know how to use the historical methodology to understand the present of international organizations, in their potential and in their limits.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Ability to understand the complexity and versatility of international and regional organizations of the contemporary era;
• ability to identify tools, techniques, dynamics and limits of international organizations of the contemporary era;
• ability to interpret the current international scenario thanks to the mastery of historical dynamics.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of European history after the Vienna Congress and of the history of international relations of the 20th century.

Knowledge of English.

TEACHING METHODS

The lectures will alternate with discussions, made possible only by the willingness of those who attend the lectures to participate in the debates.

Slides and other eventual material will available in Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will address the following topics:

1) cooperation and security in 19th century Europe: the congress system and the “concert of Europe”;

2) the “first globalization” and its effects: transnational political movements, international public unions, collaboration in legal matters, the “Hague system”;

3) the Paris peace conference and the League of Nations system;

4) rise and decline of “collective security”: the political action of the League of Nations between the two wars;

5) successes and limits of socio-economic cooperation in the 20s and 30s: the ILO, the economic commissions of the League of Nations, the other experiences of economic collaboration;

6) the “internationalist” perspectives during the Second World War and the birth of the United Nations;

7) the UN system, specialized agencies and Bretton Woods organizations;

8) the UN and security problems in the cold war years;

9) the impact of decolonization and the new focus on development problems;

10) the international economic organization from the “golden age” to the “second globalization”;

11) notes on the evolution and problems of the UN system after the cold war.

UN Sustainable Development Goal: Goal 4: quality education.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bob Reinalda, Routledge history of international organizations: from 1815 to the present day, London and New York: Routledge, 2009 [Chapters: 2-3 (p. 17-33), 7 (p. 65-82), 11 (p. 120-135) and 15-41 (p. 177-694)]: the book is available as an e-book and can be found at the Library of the School of Social Sciences (Albergo dei Poveri).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LARA PICCARDO (President)

MARIA ELEONORA GUASCONI

MONICA PENCO (Substitute)

FRANCESCO PIERINI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First semester, 19 September 2023.

Lectures will take place in classroom nr. 7:

Tuesday h. 10-12

Wednesday h. 8-10

Thursday h. 8-10

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam (in English) consists of a written test lasting one hour.

The written test focuses on the topics covered during the lessons and in the textbook and indicated in the “Syllabus/Content” section of this teaching sheet. The written test consists of three questions: to pass the exam, all answers must be sufficient. Each answer will be scored on a scale of 1 to 10. For sufficiency, all answers must reach the minimum score of 6/10. The final mark out of thirty is given by the sum of the partial marks of the three answers.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Written exam assessment: knowledge of historical events, of the links between events, of the structures of the OI are the main elements of evaluation. These are accompanied by the ability to synthesize information and clarity in the presentation of contents. Requests for additional questions to increase the mark will not be accepted. The written exam lasts 1 hour.

English, being a vehicular language, does not fall within the evaluation criteria, but it must be understandable.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with “Special Needs”: the compensatory/dispensative tools recognized by the Department coordinator, Prof. Aristide Canepa, and by the University Service for students with special needs are applied. It is suggested to contact by Prof. Canepa and the lecturer of this course at the beginning of the lectures.