COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Across the globe, women have made great strides in economic, political and social spheres, but this has not taken away the rigid gender division of labour and unfair hierarchies. True, women participate in some political processes, but they are under-represented in governments and national decision-making groups. Men, around the world, still dominate international security apparatuses and give votes to the making and fighting of wars. It is this global gender order that produces the global political order. Interestingly, while gender is an important aspect of global politics, it is still not fully integrated into the academic study of international relations. However, critical voices from the feminists have forced the discipline to rethink its traditional orientation to include women’s experiences. The feminists in this discipline have re-examined some of the key concepts, such as security, governance, and terrorism, among others. They now ask questions such as whether it makes a difference that most foreign policy decision makers are men and why women remain relatively disempowered in matters of foreign and military policies. By doing so, these feminists have struggled to make women visible as subjects in international relations. Feminists suggest that if we put a gendered lens on international politics, we get a unique view of international politics. This course examines this suggestion by taking gender as a unit of analysis in international politics.
- Teacher: ARAYO SUSAN
YOUR ARE MOST WELCOME TO BIRD 2117: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
International Organizations (IOs) exist as both public and private entities. The former refer to inter-governmental organizations whereas the latter are also known as Non-Intergovernmental Organisations such as OXFAM, CARE International, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, Doctors (MSF) without Boarders et cetera. Multilateralism is an essential aspect of IR. It connotes the interconnectedness of states in an international system within which states cannot longer afford to adopt an isolationist tendency. The Union of International Organisations (2010/2011 Year Book) estimated the existence of close to 7,554 International Organisations, a total exceeding the number of sovereign states. This course focuses on these IOs and their influence on domestic politics and International Relations.
Since these IOs exist everywhere, they are an important subject of study. They are also very central to various aspects of international relations. Several debates surround the essence of these and their authority vis-à-vis nation states in international life. They have and still provide answers to some of the world’s problems such as environmental challenges, financial crisis, poverty and diseases among others. It is undeniable what their contribution is and therefore this course therefore seeks to delve into aspects of their origin, roles, challenges and dynamics, and specifically evaluate them as cases where they have existed.
- Teacher: ARAYO SUSAN