About this course: The course offers a well-researched and broad-ranging primer to the United Nations system. Consisting of an introduction to the complex UN family and its history, and a series of ‘snapshots’ of key UN functions, which are used to explore important UN themes and help learners develop important analysis, communication, and policy-based skills. The course is aimed broadly at people interested in learning more about the United Nations system, assuming a level of interest but no necessary previous knowledge, whilst also offering offering sufficient up to date research and new critical perspectives that it will also be of interest to people with more expertise or academic familiarity with the topic as well. The main aim of the course is to provide this wide-ranging introduction in a self-contained, but in-depth form, alongside the important practical skills necessary to understand and discuss UN affairs, and potentially lay the groundwork for greater engagement in future – either in civil society or in further study.
Created by: University of London, SOAS University of London
Taught by: Dr Dan Plesch, SOAS University of London, Dr
Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD), SOAS
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction
An overview of the MOOC
1 video, 3 readings
- Reading: Read me first
- Reading: Course Outline
- Reading: General Readings
WEEK 2
The UN Today: what is it?
This week will introduce the idea of the United Nations as a system of more-or-less connected agencies that exist to address a wide range of world problems, and provide an overview of how different parts fit together to constitute the modern United Nations system.
2 videos, 1 reading
- Video: What is the UN Today?
- Reading: The UN Today: what is it?
- Discussion Prompt: What is the UN today?
Graded: The UN today, what is it?
WEEK 3
Where did the United Nations come from, and why?
This week will provide an overview of the historical circumstances of the beginning of the UN – what early UN agencies were, what were the influential powers and groups at the early negotiations, and what values the UN was founded on, with comparisons to modern-day approaches.
2 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Where did the UN come from and why?
- Reading: Where did the United Nations come from, and why?
- Discussion Prompt: Where did the UN come from and why?
Graded: Where did the UN Come from and Why?
WEEK 4
Power in international politics: how does the UN Security Council work?
This week will use the UN Security Council as a primer to the issue of relative power in international institutions. After examining the structure and operations of the Council, it will encourage students to examine the fundamental issues that determine its existence, including the status of the five permanent members, its ability to carry out its function, and the prospects for reform.
2 videos, 1 reading
- Video: How does the UN Security Council work?
- Reading: How does the UN Security Council work? - Reading
Graded: How the UN Security Council works?
WEEK 5
What is the place of human rights in international politics?
This week will address the question of human rights at the UN, introducing the basic documents and declarations that underpin much UN activity. It will introduce the wide range of UN declarations on this topic, how they came about, and then examine potential criticisms of modern UN conceptions of human rights
2 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Human rights in international politics?
- Reading: Human rights in international politics? - Reading
Graded: What is the place of human rights in international politics?
WEEK 6
Emergency help: how does the UN respond to crises?
This week will introduce the family of UN agencies involved in humanitarian work, and begin to unpack their relationships with each other and role in responding to conflict.
2 videos, 1 reading
- Video: How does the UN respond to crises?
- Reading: How does the UN respond to crises? - Reading
Graded: Emergency help: how does the UN respond to crises?
WEEK 7
Where next for the UN? [OPTIONAL]
In this week, students will have a chance to review and draw together what they have learned over the previous weeks, and develop analysis skills when assessing how different priorities. This exercise will also introduce the issue of practicality and organisational politics to it, giving students an opportunity to consider how the issues they have examined might be affected by the process of implementation.
2 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Where next for the UN?
- Reading: Where next for the UN? - Reading
- Peer Review: Where next for the UN?
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Creators
University of London
The University of London is a federal University which includes 18 world leading Colleges. Our distance learning programmes were founded in 1858 and have enriched the lives of thousands of students, delivering high quality University of London degrees wherever our students are across the globe. Our alumni include 7 Nobel Prize winners. Today, we are a global leader in distance and flexible study, offering degree programmes to over 50,000 students in over 180 countries. To find out more about studying for one of our degrees where you are, visit www.london.ac.uk
SOAS University of London
SOAS is the world’s leading institution for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and offers a truly global perspective. With its vast repository of knowledge and expertise on our specialist regions, SOAS is uniquely placed to inform and shape current thinking about the economic, political, cultural, security and religious challenges of our world.
SOAS, founded in 1916, offers world class teaching in Law, Politics, Economics, Finance and Management, Development Studies, Languages and Cultures, History, the Arts and many other areas.
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