The United Nations and International Security

POLI71111 The United Nations and International Security 15 Semester 1 Postgraduate Taught Level 7 Hannah Wright Unit coordinator Jamie Hagen Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 The United Nations is seen by some as an emblem of peace and as a valiant attempt to remake the post-war world order. Conversely it is seen by some as a failing institution desperately in need of reform, hamstrung by great power rivalry and colonial power relations. This course will take a closer look at how the United Nations works to maintain international peace and security, including through the UN Security Council and a range of other UN bodies. In doing so, we will ask: what is meant by ‘security’ and who is it for? Is the United Nations fit deliver the kind of security that diverse populations demand? What are the key constraints to maintaining peace and security, and how might the UN overcome them? The course critically evaluates key questions facing the United Nations in the modern era, looking at current debates over reform, power relations, diplomacy, peacekeeping and justice. We will also examine how organisations inside and outside the UN system go about influence the UN, and what makes an effective strategy for bringing about change in UN policies and practices. The Unit aims to:· Critically assess how the UN conceptualises and pursues international security· Evaluate arguments for reform of the UN, including the UN Security Council· Identify key constraints faced by the UN in maintaining international peace and security and assess its successes and failures· Assess how diverse movements and theoretical perspectives continue to shape the evolution of the UN’s approach to security, including anti-colonial, feminist, and queer perspectives· Reflect on how to influence UN policy and practice At the end of this course, students will have:   · Explain how UN bodies have approached/are approaching key international security issues· Identify strengths and weaknesses of the UN in addressing key international security issues · Analyse and evaluate contemporary UN policies and practices relating to peace and security· Interpret and critically evaluate challenging texts and complex arguments related to the UN, peace and security · Develop evidence-based recommendations for policymakers or practitioners· Develop effective advocacy strategies for achieving changes in policy and practice · Present written arguments tailored for a policymaker or practitioner audience Weekly contact hours will consist of one two-hour workshop each week. These sessions will be interactive and will consist of a range of activities including; mini-lectures, debates, discussion and presentations. 0 Other 100% Advocacy Strategy (1000 words) 40%Policy Brief or Op-Ed (2000 words) 60%   N Weiss, T. G. & Daws, S. (2020), The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations, 2nd edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press)Gifkins, J. (2021) Beyond the Veto: Roles in UN Security Council Decision-Making, Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations, 27(1), pp. 1-24.Stavrianakis, A. (2019) Controlling weapons circulation in a postcolonial militarised world, Review of International Studies, 45(1), pp. 57-76.Tharoor, S. (2011) Security Council Reform: Past, Present, and Future, Ethics & International Affairs, 25(4), pp. 397-406.Bosco, D. (2014) Assessing the UN Security Council: A Concert Perspective, Global Governance, 20(4), pp. 545-561.Thakur, R. (2016) The Responsibility to Protect at 15, International Affairs, 92 (2), pp. 415–434.Cohn, C. (2008) Mainstreaming Gender in UN Security Policy: A Path to Political Transformation? In: Rai, S. & Waylen, G, (eds). Global Governance: Feminist Perspectives (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), pp.185–206.Ba, O. & Bluen, K. J. (2023) The Geopolitics of Race, Empire, and Expertise at the ICC, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.717.Cooper-Cunningham, D., Hagen, J. J., Ramon, M.S.P, and Gifkins, J. (2023) Can the UN protect queer rights? <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/07/28/united-nations-lgbtq-queer-rights-homophobia-transphobia-security-council/">https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/07/28/united-nations-lgbtq-queer-rights-homophobia-transphobia-security-council/</a>  Seminars 20 0 130