140397 SE T II - International Organizations in the 19th Century (2011S)
Result of Western Aspirations for Hegemony or Global Entanglement?
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Ganztagesblöcke zwischen 6. Juni und 10. Juni 2011
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Mo 21.02.2011 10:00 to We 02.03.2011 10:00
- Registration is open from We 02.03.2011 18:00 to Fr 04.03.2011 10:00
- Deregistration possible until Th 31.03.2011 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Monday 06.06. 12:00 - 16:00 (ehem. Seminarraum Internationale Entwicklung Afrikawissenschaften UniCampus Hof 5 2Q-EG-05)
- Tuesday 07.06. 13:00 - 19:00 (ehem. Seminarraum Internationale Entwicklung Afrikawissenschaften UniCampus Hof 5 2Q-EG-05)
- Wednesday 08.06. 11:00 - 17:00 (ehem. Seminarraum Internationale Entwicklung Afrikawissenschaften UniCampus Hof 5 2Q-EG-05)
- Thursday 09.06. 12:00 - 15:00 (ehem. Seminarraum Internationale Entwicklung Afrikawissenschaften UniCampus Hof 5 2Q-EG-05)
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
For a long time, International Organizations have been a topic primarily dealt with in the social sciences. Recently they also have become an agenda of research in historically oriented disciplines, especially Global History is intensively studying them. Consequently, they are a topic in which various disciplinary approaches entangle and thus give the opportunity to demonstrate to students the potential as well as the challenges of interdisciplinary areas of research. In addition, there were neither recent empirical studies nor overviews over their history. In the meantime, a rich literature concerning both aspects has emerged so that it will be possible to present and discuss various interpretations and narratives in the seminar. In this cintext, students will be introduced to research in Global History and made familiar with its specific approach to the topic. Following this the guiding question of the seminar concerning the context and background of the emergende of International Organizations will be studied (first meeting). Several organizations will be scrutinized then during several meetings until finally comparisons will be undertaken which point beyond the 19th century and thus to an overview.
Assessment and permitted materials
Oral presentation and seminar paper
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
It is the aim of the seminar to see International Organizations as the result of global entanglement which experienced a new quality in the middle of the 19th century. Whereas a 'discourse of newness' prevails in the social sciences focussing on international cooperation in the second half of the 20th century, a historical perspective can show that juridification of inter-national relations and interactions started considerably earlier and was subject to various dynamics and trends during its career. This insight
contributes to sharpen students' grasp of the chronological depth of the phenomena and processes of transnational entanglements beyond the case in question. Furthermore, the topics can demonstrate that scientific research of the processes of globalization as well as the public debate about it is not free from conceptions of globalpolitical order and interests, that they always comprise a normative dimension. Arguments why International Organizations were formed, how they function in the global structure and what are their effects immediately translate into judgments about relevance and usefulness. At the same time they prefigure discussions about the reformability of these institutions and provide the point of departure to promote, or marginalize, alternative actors of international relations. As scientific discussions have an extraordinary tendency to objectivate it is of prime importance to provide students with the methods of critical analysis of explanatory models and historical narratives. Finally the seminar will introduce to the problems of Eurocentrism. Increasingly, International Organizations are criticized for their European pedigree and questioned whether they have served to implement and preserve Western hegemony. Substantial knowledge about several organizations shall convey how one can position oneself in a differentiated way in this question.
Overall, by the discussion of international institutions of the 19th century students shall be enabled to do independent research concerning global historical topics and problems. On the one hand this necessitates to adopt the most important theories and methods of Global History as well as the current debates in both fields. On the other hand, these have to be transferred and applied to a concrete area of study.
contributes to sharpen students' grasp of the chronological depth of the phenomena and processes of transnational entanglements beyond the case in question. Furthermore, the topics can demonstrate that scientific research of the processes of globalization as well as the public debate about it is not free from conceptions of globalpolitical order and interests, that they always comprise a normative dimension. Arguments why International Organizations were formed, how they function in the global structure and what are their effects immediately translate into judgments about relevance and usefulness. At the same time they prefigure discussions about the reformability of these institutions and provide the point of departure to promote, or marginalize, alternative actors of international relations. As scientific discussions have an extraordinary tendency to objectivate it is of prime importance to provide students with the methods of critical analysis of explanatory models and historical narratives. Finally the seminar will introduce to the problems of Eurocentrism. Increasingly, International Organizations are criticized for their European pedigree and questioned whether they have served to implement and preserve Western hegemony. Substantial knowledge about several organizations shall convey how one can position oneself in a differentiated way in this question.
Overall, by the discussion of international institutions of the 19th century students shall be enabled to do independent research concerning global historical topics and problems. On the one hand this necessitates to adopt the most important theories and methods of Global History as well as the current debates in both fields. On the other hand, these have to be transferred and applied to a concrete area of study.
Examination topics
Using the litarture for the seminar the method of critical analysis of texts will be taught and practiced. Oral presentations will train the abilities to synthesize the readings, to abstract in dealing with numerous details of information and to prepare a structured presentation of the topic for the seminar group. Presentations will also serve to get to know various kinds of visualization and to deal with problems of rhetoric. Alongside with presentations by individual students there will be teamwork and plenary discussions in the seminar. Following the meetings minor tasks of research have to be fulfilled.
Reading list
wird Mitte März bekanntgeben
Literature will be announced by middle of March
Literature will be announced by middle of March
Association in the course directory
T II
MA Globalgeschichte und Global Studies: Vertiefung 2
MA Globalgeschichte und Global Studies: Vertiefung 2
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:35