International organisations and global governance

From the World Trade Organization to the World Health Organization, international institutions — both inter-governmental and non-governmental — play a fundamental role in global governance and ensuring the development, functioning and wellbeing of global society. This unit offers students the opportunity to explore and analyse the historical and sociological origins, legal and operational structure, and major workings of the principal international institutions responsible for global governance. It explores their impact on bringing unity to the international order in light of its significant fragmentation. The unit offers students the opportunity to learn from and interact directly with key experts, leaders and officeholders at various institutions responsible for global governance in key areas of concern. It places equal emphasis on learning within a professional and academic environment, and the development of ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ skills.

Topics will include:

• Introducing various international institutions in various areas, including trade, economic development, human and refugee rights, war and foreign aid, and labour rights. The introduction will cover these institutions’ aims, functions and objectives, their history, their impact on global governance, their current initiatives and endeavours, and their shortcomings;
• Examining the role of international institutions in developing, implementing and reforming international law and global governance policy, and their role in regulatory harmonisation;
• Analysing the fragmentation of international institutions and ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ international law, with a particular emphasis on the various dispute settlement mechanisms available to government and private actors;
• Exploring the interactions between international institutions and governments, civil society and the private sector;
• Examining the harmonisation of international institutions and international law, including cross-institutional cooperation and coordination.