Political Science 4609 International Organizations
Dr. Noha Bakr
Fall 2015
Class hours: 8:30-9:45 Sun Wed
Class: WALEED C127 Waleed
Office Hours: MR 10-11 or by email appointment
Office Location: 2027
Means of Contact: bakrnoha@aucegypt.edu
Course Description
This seminar examines the structure and evolution of international organizations, both intergovernmental, and nongovernmental, with an emphasize on the United Nations system, its
specialized agencies, and recent issues of global governance.
Course Objectives:
The aim of this course is to provide an intellectual challenge to academically able students by
engaging with stimulating mostly up to date material in the International Organizations field.
The material addresses a number of key concepts as well as normative issues. The course
provides an analytical insight into the relationship between theory and practice; it provides a
basis for further study or for careers in diplomacy, international academia, and media.
Course Policies & Requirements
I. Free and Critical Thinking
Students are required to read the course readings before each session and be ready to
critically engage in class discussion. Students are also encouraged to follow local,
national and international political events. In addition, it is crucial that students
understand that this class is meant to cultivate and encourage free and critical thinking,
and students should not be shy or apprehensive to share their views and opinions with
their peers.
II. Attendance
Students are expected to attend every class. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of
each class session. If you come in after attendance is taken, you will be considered
absent; you should therefore make every effort to arrive on time. More than three
unexcused absences will result in a 5 percentage reduction from your attendance for each
missing class. Continued absences could possibly lead to failing the course.
III. Assignments
Assignments must be submitted on the dates assigned. Late submissions will incur a
decrease of 1 percentage per day. After 5 days, late assignments will NOT be accepted.
Students must submit their assignments at the beginning of the class, as those
assignments submitted at the end of the class, will be considered as being 1 day late.
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IV. Academic Integrity Policy
The American University in Cairo adopts a policy of zero-tolerance for cheating,
plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Students who fail to meet the highest standards of
academic integrity will be severely penalized. You must attribute all ideas, arguments
and quotations that you have taken from other sources.
V. Mobile Phones
Since mobile phones are distracting to the learning experience the use of mobile phones
(including SMS) during class is strictly prohibited. Please be sure that your phone is
switched off before coming to class.
Grading System
Students will be graded on their attendance, participation, written assignments, and
performance on examinations.
Class Participation: Students are required to read the course readings before each
session and be ready to critically engage in class discussions. Students are also
encouraged to follow international events relevant to this course.
Examinations: Students will have a midterm examination which will cover all of the
readings and discussion covered until midterm. The final examination will be cumulative
but will focus on material covered after the midterm
Research Essays: Students are required to write a double-spaced, 15 pages research
essay. Topics should be selected and focused on theoretical and practical studies of
international organizations. Students may wish to focus on a specific case study, or
undertake a comparative analysis of a specific issue area. The essays must be submitted
during the last day of classes.
Assessment
Research Essay
35%
Participation and Attendance
15%
Mid-Term Examination
25%
Final Examination
25%
Total
University Grading Scale:
A = 93% and above
B+ = 87 - 89.5%
A- = 90 – 92.5%
B
B- = 80 – 82.5%
D
F
100%
C+ = 77 – 79.5%
= 83 – 86.5%
C- = 70 – 72.5%
= 60 – 66.5%
= below 60%
D+
C
= 73 – 76.5%
= 67 – 69.5%
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Required Text Books and Readings
Books
-Weiss Thomas, Forsythe David, United Nations and Changing World Politics, Boulder: West
view Press, 2007.
-Weiss Thomas, Leon Gardenker, NGOs, the UN and Global Governance, London: Lynne
Reiner, 1996.
-Ziring Lawrence, Riggs Robert, the United Nations International Organizations and World
Politics, 4th(Ed) Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.
Articles
1- Noha Bakr, NATO in Post Cold War Era: Shift of Strategies, Zagreb: NATO Advanced
Research Workshop on "The Role of Independent Scientists in Assessing the Threat of WMD".
Nov 2008
2-Fassabender Bardo, Uncertain Steps into a Post Cold War: The Role and Functioning of the
Security Council after a Decade of Measures Against Iraq, European Journal of International
Law, Volume 13 No1, 2002.
3-Rabinder Singh, Alison Macdonald, Legality of the Use of Force Against Iraq, Public
Interest Lawyers on Behalf of Peace Rights, September 2002.
4- Smith Anne-Marie, Advance in Understanding International Peace Keeping, United States
Institute of Peace, 2005.
5-The United Nations and Counter –terrorism after 11September, British Society of
Criminology, Jan2005.
6-Weiss Thomas, Overcoming the Security Council Impasse, dialogue of Globalization,
No14/jan2005
7-Weiss Thomas, the Sunset of Humanitarian Intervention? The Responsibility to protect in a
Uni polar Era, security dialogue, Vol35, No2, June2004
Web Sites
www.un.org/aboutun/mainbodies.htm
www.un.org/reform/
www.globalpolicy.org
www.shape.nato.int
www.arableagueonline.org
www.icc-cpi.int/home.html&l=en
www.un.org/icc
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Course Syllabus
Week
No
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Topic & Readings
Introduction to the Course/ Syllabus
General Discussion on the Theory of UN Collective Security
* Weiss Thomas, The United Nations & Changing world Politics. ch1
UN Historical Evolution
UN Main Bodies/ Subsidiary Bodies
www.un.org/aboutun/mainbodies.htm
 Activities:
-Students Presentations representing UN 6 main bodies
-Watching a film on UN Millennium Goals
Peace Keeping Forces & Concept of Sovereignty
Transformation of Different Generations of Peace keeping
 Smith Anne Marie, Advances in Understanding International Peace
Keeping, United States Institute of Peace (Hard copy on reserve)
 United Nations Operations: Principles & Guide Lines, 2008
http://pbpu.unlb.org/pbps/Library/Capstone_Doctrine_ENG.pdf
Activities:
-Students simulation to the conference of Ottowa & Egyptian Council of Foreign Affairs 2007
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The United Nations and Counter Terrorism
* Noha Bakr, Kadry Said, Terrorism Egypt Legislative Frame Work, Washington DC: US Defense
College, 2008 (Under Publication)
*UN action to Counter Terrorism
http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/terrorism/
Disbarment &Arm Control/ The UN and Arms Control in the Nuclear Era
*Ziring, Riggs, The United Nations , International Organization & World
Politics(4th Ed) 2005, ch7
*Cross-Cutting Report No. 2
The Security Council’s Role in Disarmament and Arms Control: Nuclear Weapons, Non-Proliferation and other
Weapons of Mass Destruction
1 September 2009
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UN Performance Post Cold War& UN Reforms,
*Thomas Weiss, , The Illusion of the Security Council Reforms, The Washington Quarterly • 26:4 pp. 147–161.
http://csis.org/files/publication/twq03autumnweiss.pdf
Distributing take home exam questions
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*Students presenting their Paper topics, outline, literature review, methodology, elaborating on their
intended thesis
*Students submitting take home exam
International Criminal Court
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http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/About+the+Court/
*Rome Statute
www.icc-cpi.int/home.html&l=en
www.un.org/icc
Sudan as a case study
Guest speaker: Guest speaker: Dr. Fouad Abdel Monem Riad Former Judge
to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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NATO/ What does it do/how does it do it/how does it work/NATO agenda
* Noha Bakr, NATO in Post Cold War Era: Shift of Strategies, Zagreb: NATO Advanced Research
Workshop on "The Role of Independent Scientists in Assessing the Threat of WMD". Nov 2008
* www.shape.nato.int
-Razoux Pierre The NATO Mediterranean Dialogue at a crossroads, Research Division – NATO
Defense College, Rome - No. 35 – April 2008
Activities
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The Arab League/ 3 Councils Functions/Decision making process/Reforms required/Obstacles
for reforms
*Charter
http://www.mideastweb.org/arableague.htm
 Marco Pinfari, Nothing but Failure? The Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council, as
 Mediators in Middle Eastern Conflicts, International Relations Department
London School of Economics and Political Science
http://www.crisisstates.com/download/wp/wpSeries2/WP45.2.pdf
-Visit to League of Arab States on a Saturday
The African Union: http://www.au.int/en/about/history
NGOs
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*Background Non-governmental Organizations on Development Issues Anup Shah
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http://www.globalissues.org/print/article/25
Students Presenting their final papers
Students Presenting their final papers
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