This advanced seminar (Vertiefungsseminar) in the field of international relations focuses on the role of formal international organizations (IOs) in world politics, such as the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Trade Organization. IOs are established by international treaties, conventions, and protocols. They facilitate cooperation and coordination between their member states, and they typically differ in terms of structure, objectives and functioning. Some organizations have been established to resolve conflicts and facilitate the negotiation of peace agreements, others deal with the regulation of transboundary trade flows and environmental pollution. IOs bring new topics to the agenda of international politics, plan and conduct operational activities and monitor compliance with international agreements. This seminar provides an introduction to basic concepts and theories about IOs, their history, structure, actors and functioning. It combines a comprehensive overview of the empirical study of IOs with a focus on important issue areas such as development aid, environmental protection, human rights, and trade.
