POLI 370 Hybrid

This is a hybrid course: part of the course will be conducted online and part in class. There will be a brief in-class meeting of the class in December. Then, until April, the class will operate largely online. From Monday April 9 through Friday April 13--the week of the Model United Nations Program--the class will meet every night from 6 PM to 8:40 PM. Since the class will organize and administer the Model United Nations Program the members of the class will be fully engaged during the days of Thursday April 12 and Friday April 13--the days of the program. After April 13 the class will revert to a mostly online course until the end of the semester. There will be online threaded discussions, a class research project, assignments will be submitted electronically, and exams will be conducted online as well.

UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

This course will introduce the student to the major substantive topics examined by specialists in the field of international organization. As part of the class, students will organize and supervise the annual LHU Model United Nations.

COURSE MATERIALS

Required Readings:

Meisler, S. United Nations: The First Fifty Years

Chomsky, N. Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance

The New York Times (daily)

Recommended Readings:

Ehrlichman, J. The China Card

Drury, A. A Thing of State

GRADING

Your final grade will be computed on the following basis:

Mid-Term Test 15%

Final Exam 25%

Class Research Project 20%

Model UN Project 20%

Threaded Discussion/Participation 20%

COURSE SCHEDULE

Jan 15 - 21

Introduction to Course and MUN Overview

Log-in to the online courseware successfully.

Required Readings: Meisler, begin reading.

Jan 22 - 28

First Threaded Discussion Opens: Weeks Two and Three

Search the web and the library for sources which argue for major accomplishments of the UN system.

Report your findings and your evaluation of your findings to the class via the threaded discussion platform. Through critical interaction with your classmates via the threaded discussion develop a consensus on the ten major accomplishments of the UN (including the GA, SC, ECOSOC, Trusteeship Council, Secretariat and UN specialized agencies including the WHO, FAO, IAEA, WIPO, etc. ).

Required Readings: Meisler, continue reading.

Jan 29 - Feb 4

Required Readings: Meisler, finish reading.

Feb 5 - 11

Second Threaded Discussion Opens: Weeks Four and Five
Search the web and the library for sources which argue for major failings of the UN system.

Report your findings and your evaluation of your findings to the class via the threaded discussion platform. Through critical interaction with your classmates via the threaded discussion develop a consensus on the ten major failings of the UN (including the GA, SC, ECOSOC, Trusteeship Council, Secretariat and UN specialized agencies including the WHO, FAO, IAEA, WIPO, etc. ).

Required Readings: Chomsky, start reading.

Feb 12- 18

Meet to elect MUN Secretariat: Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, Logistics Supervisor, Deputy Logistics Supervisor, Resolutions Selection Committee (between five and ten members), Chairs Group (five to seven students who will chair sessions of the MUN), Judging and Awards Committee (between five and ten members)

Required Readings: Chomsky, finish reading.

Feb 19 - 25

Check-out MUN Training Packets.

Required Readings: Training Packet material.

Feb 26 - Mar 6

Mid-Term Test

Required Readings: none.

SPRING BREAK

Mar 19 - 25
MUN organizational; Finalize evening program plans

Mar 26 - April 1
MUN organizational; 1st dress rehearsal of evening program

Required Readings: none.

April 2 - 8
2nd dress rehearsal of evening program

Apr 9 - 15
MUN Week; Evening program week