International
Organization and Law
Class Project
Option 1: Research Paper
Introduction
One of the primary learning objectives in this class is for students
to gain experience in researching and writing about a focused issue associated
with international organization and/or law. Students therefore will conduct
an in depth research project for this class that investigates an empirical
question associated with the topic at hand.
All research projects must contain the following:
1. A topic in the form of an explanatory question.
2. An answer to the question that amounts to an argument
3. Research that provides evidence in support of your argument
4. Consideration of counterarguments
Topics
Students may write on any aspect of international organization and/or
law that interests them. They may focus on international institutions (the
World Bank, the OAS, the Security Council of the UN), legal doctrines (changing
notions or sovereignty, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), NGOs
(Greenpeace, Doctors Without Borders) or relations between actors (the
U.S. and the U.N., the U.N. and development NGOs). More important is that
students identify a focused topic that can be dealt with in depth in 15-20
pages.
Examples
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How has the U.S.'s relationship with the U.N. changed under the Clinton
presidency and why?
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Why has the World Bank failed to be more successful in fostering development?
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How have U.N. reforms affected the institution's effectiveness?
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What impact have anti-sweatshop campaigns had on transnational corporations?
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Why have efforts to reform the U.N. Security Council failed and what impact
has that failure had on institutional effectiveness?
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Why has the U.N taken on a greater role in containing global conflict and
what have been the results? The cases of Cambodia and Bosnia
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What does the Pinochet case tell us about the evolution of international
war crimes law and the notion of sovereignty?
Pitfalls
Writing a lengthy research paper is difficult, especially for a novice.
In my experience I have found students who run into problems with such
an assignment to fall into the same traps, including:
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Selecting a topic that is too narrow, or much more commonly...
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Selecting a topic that is too broad
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Writing a descriptive, rather than explanatory paper
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Writing a paper that focuses on "good-bad" or "should" rather than one
that focuses on "why"
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Relying on the Internet for the bulk of information
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Starting too late
Option 2: Experiential Learning Project
Students may opt to engage in an activist or experiential
learning project in lieu of a traditional research project. Students choosing
this option must work closely with the professor throughout the semester.
Students should be aware that choosing this option will likely lead to
more rather than less work. The primary assignment is for those choosing
Option 2 is to become involved in a political issue dealing with international
politics and to either actively engage in an existing international organization
or to begin forming one of their own.
It should be noted that students must go far beyond
simply writing a check to join an organization. Participation must include:
Immersion in the political issue: What is the nature of the
issue? Who are the primary actors involved? What IGOs and NGOs actively
deal with the issue regularly, what are their strategies and how effective
are they? In short, you are to become an expert over this issue and how
it has been treated by IOs or IL
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Expertise within your organization: Students becoming active in
an existing organization must learn as much as possible about that organization,
including its history, organizational structure, membership profile and
strategies for activism
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Public action: Students must engage in public action, such as starting
a campus or community chapter of an organization, or posting a Web site
that will educate the public
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Reporting: Students must consult regularly with the professor and
make periodic reports of activities undertaken
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Write-up: Students must prepare a report of their experience regarding
points 1-3, to be handed in at the end of the project.
Issue Examples:
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Human Rights
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Ozone Depletion
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Save the Whales
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Sweatshop Issues
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Child Prostitution
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War Crimes
Due Date: November 18
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