Educational offer - University of Padova

Syllabus

Prerequisites:	A basic knowledge of the European history after the Congress of Vienna and of 20th century history of international relations is required
Target skills and knowledge:	The course will give the students: - a good knowledge of the evolution of the major bodies of international cooperation from 19th century until today; - the capability of adequately put these events in the wider evolution of the international system during the same period.
Examination methods:	The final examination will consist of a written test
Assessment criteria:	Students will be evaluated on the basis of their critical knowledge of the events and evolution of the mechanisms and bodies of multilateral cooperation.
Course unit contents:	The course will treat the following topics: 1) cooperation and security in 19th century Europe: the Age of Congresses and the “concert of Europe”; 2) the “first globalisation” and its consequences: transnational political movements, public international unions, juridical cooperation, the "Hague system"; 3) Paris peace conference and the League of Nations system; 4) the rise and fall of “collective security”: the political action of the League in the inter-war years; 5) successes and limits of international socio-economic cooperation during the 1920s and 1930s: the ILO, the economic commissions of the League of Nations, other experiences of economic cooperation; 6) the emerging "international" visions during WWII and the path to the United Nations; 7) the UN system, the specialised agencies and Bretton Woods organisations; 8) the UN Organisation and security problems in the cold war era; 9) the impact of decolonisation and the focus on development issues; 10) the international economic organisation from the “golden age” to the “second globalisation”; 11) hints on the evolution and problems of the UN system after the cold war.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods:	The course is made of frontal lectures
Additional notes about suggested reading:	Students must study the suggested textbook (alternative textbooks may be agreed upon with the teacher). Attending lectures is, however, strongly recommended.
Textbooks (and optional supplementary readings)	Bob Reinalda, Routledge history of international organizations: from 1815 to the present day. London and New York: Routledge, 2009. Only chapters 2-3 (p. 17-33), 7 (p. 65-82), 11 (p. 120-135) and 15-41 (p. 177-694)