IRS 406 : International Institutions

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

1. trace the origins and development of international organizations;
2. explain that the Concert of Europe, and the Universal Postal Union were stepping stones for the establishment of full-fledged international organizations;
3. discuss the establishment of the League of Nations and its failure to prevent World War II;
4. identify the three main schools of thought on the essence of international institutions;
5. analyse the establishment of the UN as an embryonic World order;
6. state the classification of International Organization; and

• 7.    identify the advantages and disadvantages of membership of International institutions.

Course Contents

The origins of international institutions. Writings on international institutions. Failure of the League of Nations. The various peace conferences before the establishment of the United Nations. The origins of the U.N. Charter. The various organs and its agencies. The changing emphasis of its role in the 60s to the present time. Regional Institutions. OAU, ECOWAS and many others. Classification of international institutions. The concert of Europe, The Hague Conferences: Schools of Thought on the essence of International institutions.