IS 344 - Multinational Peacekeeping

Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
Credit Hours: 3

The purpose of this course is to explore the theory and practice of multilateral peace operations and humanitarian intervention as they relate to the principles and practice of international law in world politics. The course covers the origin and evolution of peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and post-conflict peace building; legal and ethical issues surrounding peace operations; and debates over peace operations doctrine and strategy. Specifically the course will identify and explain significant events in the history of international relations, including the Treaty of Westphalia, the European balance of power system prior to World War I, the world wars, colonialism and the Cold War.

The course will consider criteria for evaluation of peace operations, causes of peace operations success and failure, and problems of managing and coordinating actors involved in peace operations. The course will recognize the dynamic nature of international politics and evaluate the contemporary challenges to the traditional state-centric approach posed by non-state actors, including international organizations, social movements, multinational corporations and individuals. The course will identify and examine specific cases of peacekeeping and peace enforcement and will consider the role of peace operations in the promotion of international order, institutions of global and regional governance, especially the United Nations and explore the structure and functioning of significant international organizations, including the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization.