2012 Program Brochure



Apply Now for Summer 2012

International Organizations, Law and Diplomacy
Summer Program in Washington and Geneva


***There are still places in the program - please contact the program coordinator (mleblanc@wcl.american.edu) as soon as possible to enroll***


Globalization and the changing architecture of global governance pose many challenges to governments and to other international actors. These challenges require scholars and practitioners to rethink the nature of global governance in contemporary international society and to find new ways of understanding multilateralism, international organizations, and rules and practices. The Program on International Organizations, Law and Diplomacy combines legal, diplomatic, and social scientific approaches to the study of multilateralism.

The program will cover all aspects of international organizations, including political, juridical, security, economic, social, and cultural dimensions. The theory and practice of contemporary international organizations, law and diplomacy will be taught through courses, conferences, and experiential learning with international organizations in Washington and Geneva.

The summer program is open to participants from AU graduate schools, as well as to U.S. and international students from other academic institutions, officials from international organizations, and individuals working for governments or in the private sector. Successful completion of the requirements will lead to a Certificate of Completion. Matriculated AU students receive WCL academic credit; students from other universities should inquire at their home institutions about the transfer of academic credit. Participants have the option to enroll in the Washington or Geneva program and are encouraged to do both.

Visits to international organizations (such as the World Bank, IMF, and OAS in Washington) as well as substantive interaction with officials are important components of the program. The Geneva program is especially unique in that courses are hosted or have substantial activities in the headquarters of the international organizations themselves (WTO, WIPO, ILO). The program provides excellent networking opportunities as well as assistance in facilitating internships.

***Please visit our courses page for descriptions and (tentative) class schedules***

Washington: May 29 - June 15, 2012
Geneva: June 19 - July 6, 2012

 

Announcement: United Nations-Brookings Institution Speechwriting Competition

"There is a growing consensus concerning our global interdependence. What is less clear is what sort of a global civics is necessary and feasible for us to navigate our growing interdependence.

Article 28 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines everyone's right to an international order where inherent dignity and rights of all are fully realized. Brookings Institution and the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) invite university students from around the world to ponder these vital questions, and to imagine a speech that would be made by the Secretary-General to the opening of the next session of the General Assembly.

The submissions, of up to 1500 words in length, should address what responsibilities we can all take on towards people who happen not to be our compatriots, and what rights we can claim as we work to solve global problems together in a shared culture of intellectual social responsibility.

The competition is open to all students enrolled at a university. The submissions should be sent simultaneously to academicimpact@un.org and haltinay@brookings.edu by June 15, 2012. Please put SPEECH COMPETITION in the subject line. Authors of what are judged to be the top three submissions, at least one of whom will be from an UNAI member institution, will be invited to New York and Washington DC, meet with the United Nations Secretary General and the leadership of the Brookings Institution respectively."







An ABA-approved program

For more information, contact:

Carlos Portales, Director
202-895-4523

Marc LeBlanc, Program Coordinator
202-895-4530

internationalorganizations@wcl.american.edu