Law&Dplmcy in Regnl Orgnztns (LAW-795-011)
Portales, Acharya, Ukata
Meets: 11:00 AM - 01:30 PM (MTWTHF) - Room 527
Enrolled: 4 / Limit: 20
Notices
Meets 5/29/2012 - 6/15/2012 in WCL Room 527
Description
The purpose of this course is to provide a comparative overview of regional organizations in three different continents: Africa, the Americas, and Asia. A greater understanding of the theory and practice of contemporary regional organizations will be expected.
The Africa section will analyze the efforts by African states to manage their external relations through continent-wide and regional organizations. It specifically seeks to appraise the workings of the African Union (AU) and the regional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as they deal with political, legal, economic, security, social and cultural issues affecting their respective member states. The course also aims to deepen the student’s understanding of the environment within which African states, whether at the regional or at the continental level, conduct their diplomatic relations with particular attention being paid to providing a good understanding of the actors, contexts and outcomes. We shall identify patterns of change, examine constraints, and give careful attention to some of the processes that influence policy outcomes.
The Americas and Latin America section will cover hemispheric institutions (Organization of American States [OAS] and the Inter-American Development Bank [IDB]), regional organizations (the Rio Group) and sub-regional organizations (such as the Southern Common Market [MERCOSUR], the Union of South American Nations [UNASUR], and the Central American Common Market [CACM]). The historical context, the evolution of state actors and the culture and processes of institutions will be analyzed. It will focus on four main purposes of cooperation: security and non-intervention, human rights, democracy and economic integration.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one of the most prominent regional organizations in the developing world today. Established in 1967, ASEAN has undertaken extensive cooperation on economic, political, security and socio-cultural affairs among its members. Moreover, through its affiliated institutions, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asian Summit, it brings together all the major powers of the world and plays the role of anchor of the wider Asian and Asia Pacific regionalism. As such, it plays an important role in the regional economic and security order of Asia, a region which is increasingly vital to world affairs. This section will provide an overview of ASEAN’s emergence, role, successes and limitations.
Textbooks and Other Materials
The textbook information on this page was provided by the instructor. Students should use this information when considering purchases from the AU Campus Store or other vendors. Students may check to determine if books are currently available for purchase online.
Crafting Cooperation: Regional International Institutions in Comparative Perspective
Amitav Acharya and Alastair Iain Johnston
Cambridge University Press
ISBN-13: 978-0521699426
First Class Readings
See the syllabus below
Syllabus
Use your MyAU username and password to access the syllabus in the following format(s):
Microsoft Word 2007 (DOCX)