APU IRLS503 All Weeks Discussions Latest 2019 September

IRLS503 International Organizations

Week 1 Discussion

International
Organizations: Introduction and Overview

So that we
are all on the same page from the outset, please read this blog post before
posting and raise at least one point from it that you deem important in your
Week 1 post:
http://inpublicsafety.com/2016/01/sharpening-scholarly-skills-can-enhance-professional-performance/

After
reading the Week 1 Lesson and completing the first readings, please address the
following questions:

(1) Given
that states are self-interested actors, why do IOs exist?

(2) What
IOs, or kinds of IOs, do you find the most effective or necessary in
international politics and why? Please differentiate between different types of
IOs (e.g., IGOs, NGOs) to explain your answer.

IRLS503 International Organizations

Week 2 Discussion

IO
Independence and Autonomy: Perspectives from Constructivism and Liberalism

After
reading this week’s lesson notes and reading, please develop an argument that
responds to each of the following questions:

(a) Do you
think IGOs create a convergence of state interests?

(b) Do you
think IGO membership results in socialization?

(b) Do IOs
more generally help foster accountability among states?

Your
answers should not regurgitate the conclusions of these articles, but rather
critique them. Feel free to disagree with the authors if you find reason. For
example, consider these questions in your answer: what assumptions undergird
the arguments of these authors? To what degree are the authors’ conclusions generalizable
across different issue areas, types of countries, or types of IOs?

IRLS503 International Organizations

Week 3 Discussion

Institutions
and Regimes: Perspectives from Realism and Liberalism

In 1994,
Mearsheimer wrote an influential article in which he argued that only realism
explains the international system and dismissed other approaches to
international institutions. After reading the lesson notes and all of the
assigned articles from this week, please compose a post that addresses each of
the three points below.

Analyze the
strengths and weaknesses of Mearsheimer’s perspective on international
institutions,

Evaluate
the counterarguments offered by Pevehouse and Russett (2006), and Ruggie
(1982), and

Assess how
relevant the realist paradigm is for making sense of international institutions
and international regimes today.

IRLS503 International Organizations

Week 4 Discussion

Human
Rights: Treaties, NGOs, and Transnational Networks

Our
readings this week concern the question of why states adopt human rights
treaties and join human rights organizations. We also learn about NGOs and
transnational advocacy networks, and the challenges they face. Please compose a
post that addresses each of the following questions:

How do we
determine whether human rights IOs are effective?

Which types
are most effective: human rights treaties, NGOs, or transnational advocacy
networks?

IRLS503 International Organizations

Week 5 Discussion

After
completing the assigned readings and the lesson, what are some of the biggest
challenges IOs face when attempting to preserve security and enact justice?
Analyze some of the factors that determine how successfully or unsuccessfully
IOs address those challenges.

IRLS503 International Organizations

Week 6 Discussion

International
Financial Institutions: The IMF, World Bank, and WTO

After
completing the assigned readings and reading the lesson notes, please prepare a
post that addresses the following question.

Whom are
IFIs, such as the IMF, World Bank, and WTO, accountable to? In preparing an
answer to this question, analyze whose interests are represented through the
work of these IFIs and some of the accountability challenges they face.

Note: the
objective is not to repeat and agree with one article in this forum; there is
no “correct” answer to this question. The best answers will be well-supported
with citations from our readings and display critiques of key points. We should
end up with a healthy debate.

IRLS503 International Organizations

Week 7 Discussion

Regional
Organizations: The European Union

The
readings this week apply different theoretical perspectives to analyze the
European Union as a regional IO. For example, in the articles, we read about
rationalism, social constructivism, multi-level governance, enforcement and management
theory, and more. In addition, the lesson notes discuss intergovernmentalism,
supranationalism, and veto player theory. Which theoretical perspective(s) do
you find the most persuasive and why when it comes to analyzing EU
policymaking? Which is the least persuasive and why? Please incorporate
specific examples to support your arguments.

IRLS503 International Organizations

Week 8 Discussion

A Global
IO: The United Nations

Questions
are often raised about the effectiveness of the United Nations in conflict
resolution and peace operations. To what extent has the UN been successful in
mitigating or preventing conflict? Under what conditions are peace operations
likely to be successful?