About this course: How are international power relations changing and how can global peace and stability be maintained? This course familiarizes you with some main theories of international relations, shows how the global order is gradually changing and discusses how selected international and regional organizations contribute to the maintenance of global peace and security. You learn what research findings tell us in terms of the capacity of international organizations and actors to help prevent or stop violent conflict, what tools are used to negotiate agreements and how foundations for sustainable peace are best created. We will also focus on the role of the European Union in terms of diplomacy and efforts to prevent conflict, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the contribution of organizations such as the African Union to the prevention of conflict and war. We will study the United Nations Security Council and see in which ways its membership could be adapted to more accurately reflect the power relations of the current global order. Through quizzes and exercises testing your knowledge of these subjects, you will understand crucial concepts and get insights into how the academic study of international relations and international organization contributes to the search for global stability and peace in practice.
Who is this class for: Whether you are a student of international relations, working in the field of foreign affairs or interested in understanding how the global order is subject to change, why conflict occurs and how it can be resolved, and how international peace and security can be maintained by international institutions, this course will provide you with the theory and practice you need. In keeping with the nature of the material and the purpose of the course, this course is free, and will remain free for all participants. However, if you are interested in receiving a formal certificate, there will be a fee to cover costs.
Created by: Universiteit Leiden
Taught by: Madeleine Hosli, Prof. Dr.
Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs
| Level | Intermediate |
| Commitment | 4-7 hours per week |
| Language | English, Subtitles: French |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome to the course
Great that you are joining us! In this course you will learn about international relations, peace and security. Before you start with studying we invite you to first go through our introduction module and introduce yourself in the forum to meet your fellow learners. If you encounter any difficulties while studying, please let us know in the forum. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the course certificate, you can always contact the Coursera Learner Helpdesk. Good luck and we hope you will enjoy the course!
1 video, 5 readings
- Video: Introduction to this course
- Reading: Meet the instructors & the team
- Reading: Welcome to Leiden University
- Reading: Tips for studying online
- Reading: Being successful in an international virtual learning community
- Reading: Behaving in an academic way
- Discussion Prompt: Introduce yourself
Theories of International Relations
In this first week, we will discuss theories of international relations and in addition to this, we will have a first lecture on the United Nations Security Council. Theories may at times seem a bit ‘abstract’, or even ‘dry’, but you will see that they actually do matter; make sure to also have a look at our assigned and recommended readings to provide you with additional insights.
7 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Overview of the Week
- Video: Introduction the United Nations Security Council (Prof. dr. Van den Herik)
- Video: Realism
- Reading: Waltz: Structural Realism after the Cold War
- Video: Liberalism
- Reading: Keohane & Martin: The Promise of Institutionalist Theory
- Discussion Prompt: Comparing Realism and Liberalism
- Video: Constructivism
- Reading: Snyder: Bridging the Realist Constructivist Divide: The Case of the Counterrevolution in Soviet Foreign Policy and the End of the Cold War
- Discussion Prompt: Constructivism
- Discussion Prompt: Analyzing Trump with IR Theory
- Video: Wrap Up
- Video: Extra Video: Do Institutions Matter?
- Reading: Additional Readings
Graded: Test your knowledge
WEEK 2
The Changing World Order: Rising Powers and International Institutions
This week we will be looking into changing world power in more detail, mainly targeting the question: who are the rising powers? You will get lectures from two of our guest instructors: Professor Rob de Wijk and Professor André Gerrits. Topics covered are power politics, the rise of China and the role of Russia in the current global order.
6 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Overview of the Week
- Video: Power Politics (Prof. dr. Rob de Wijk)
- Reading: De Jong, Korteweg, Polchar & Usano: New Players, New Game? The Impact of Emerging Economies on Global Governance
- Video: Rise of China (Prof. dr. Rob de Wijk)
- Video: The Role of Russia (Prof. dr. André Gerrits)
- Video: Russia in International Organizations (Prof. dr. André Gerrits)
- Discussion Prompt: The Role of Russia
- Reading: Monaghan: The New Russian Foreign Policy Concept: Evolving Continuity, Russia and Eurasia
- Reading: Jones: Making Multilateralism Work: How the G-20 Can Help the United Nations
- Video: Wrap Up
- Reading: Additional Readings
Graded: Test your knowledge
WEEK 3
Conflict, Conflict Resolution and Security
This week, we will look at Conflict, Conflict Resolution and Security. We have a number of very interesting lectures as well as some additional interviews with experts in the field. Some of the topics include negotiation and mediation strategies, UN Security Council sanctions, the role of the International Criminal Court, and interviews on the practical implementation of these strategies and mechanisms. Additionally, for those of you completing the honors track, this week we have the peer review essay assignment. In this assignment, you will write about a conflict of your choice and apply the conflict resolution strategies to the conflict. Good luck on the assignment!
9 videos, 3 readings
- Video: Overview of the Week
- Video: Resolving Conflict Through Negotiation (Dr. Sinisa Vukovic)
- Video: Resolving Conflict Through Mediation (Dr. Sinisa Vukovic)
- Discussion Prompt: Resolving conflict through negotiation and mediation
- Reading: Bercovitch & Lee: Mediating International Conflicts: Examining the Effectiveness of Directive Strategies
- Discussion Prompt: Conflict Resolution in Syria
- Video: Peace Enforcement Mechanisms: UNSC Sanctions (Prof dr. Larissa van den Herik)
- Video: International Criminal Court (Prof. dr. Larissa van den Herik)
- Discussion Prompt: Maintaining international peace and security
- Reading: Van den Herik: U.N. Peace-Enforcement Missions and International Criminal Law
- Video: Wrap Up
- Video: Extra Video: Interview Paul Meerts - Negotiation in Practice
- Video: Extra Video: Interview Carsten Stahn - International Law
- Video: Extra Video: Interview Gideon Shimshon & Ulrich Mans - Peace Informatics Lab
- Reading: Additional Readings
Graded: Test your knowledge
Graded: Conflict Resolution and Mediation
WEEK 4
Regional Organizations in Global Affairs
This week, we will look at regional organizations in global affairs in which we first focus on the European Union. Thereafter, Prof. dr. Giles Scott-Smith will familiarize us with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Arctic Council. We will also present an additional interview with Prof. dr. Mohamed Salih about the African Union and an interview with Hetty Burgman about Cordaid. Lastly, also a guest lecture at Leiden University by Federica Mogherini, the current High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, is released.
10 videos, 3 readings
- Video: Overview of the Week
- Video: The Development and Integration of the EU Over Time
- Discussion Prompt: The Future of the EU
- Video: EU's Foreign Policy
- Reading: Vanhoonacker & Pomorska: The European External Action Service and Agenda-Setting in European Foreign Policy
- Discussion Prompt: European Regional Cooperation
- Video: Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Prof. dr. Giles Scott-Smith)
- Video: Arctic Council (Prof. dr. Giles Scott-Smith)
- Reading: Frost: The Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and Russia’s Strategic Goals in Central Asia
- Discussion Prompt: Regional Organization Models
- Video: Wrap Up
- Video: Extra Video: Interview Mohamed Salih - African Union
- Video: Extra video: Regionalism in Latin America - Joren Selleslaghs
- Video: Extra Video: Interview with Hetty Burgman - Cordaid
- Video: Extra Video: Guest Lecture by Federica Mogherini at Leiden University
- Reading: Additional Readings
Graded: Test your knowledge
WEEK 5
NATO in a Changing World
The topic addressed this week is NATO in a Changing World. There are two lectures by Prof. dr. Rob de Wijk. The first examines coercion and the second elucidates the new role of NATO in the international arena. Furthermore, there are also interesting interviews with several former Secretary Generals of NATO, including Jamie Shea, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and Rasmussen.
7 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Overview of the Week
- Video: Coercion (Prof. dr. Rob de Wijk)
- Reading: De Wijk: The Instruments of Coercion
- Reading: De Wijk: The Strategies of Coercion
- Video: The New Role of NATO (prof. dr. Rob de Wijk)
- Discussion Prompt: The adaptation of NATO
- Reading: Kesselring: NATO - Towards a New Strategic Concept
- Video: Wrap Up
- Video: Extra Video: Interview Jamie Shea - Deputy Secretary General NATO
- Video: Extra Video: Recording of the lecture of Secretary General of NATO Rasmussen
- Video: Extra Video: Interview Jaap de Hoop Scheffer - Former Secretary General NATO
- Reading: Additional Readings
Graded: Test your knowledge
WEEK 6
Reforming the UNSC: Strategies and Proposals
This week, we will focus on the United Nations Security Council and Reform Proposals. The topics addressed are the history of the UNSC, its current structure, and how it can best be reformed. Additionally, there are two extra videos by Abiodun Williams and Edwin Bakker.
8 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Overview of the Week
- Video: The History of the UNSC
- Video: The Current Composition of the UNSC
- Discussion Prompt: The composition of the UN
- Reading: Laub: The UN Security Council, Council on Foreign Relations.
- Video: Reforming the UNSC: Part I
- Video: Reforming the UNSC: Part II
- Reading: Dörfler & Hosli: Reforming the United Nations Security Council: Proposals, Strategies and Preferences
- Discussion Prompt: Reforming the UNSC
- Video: Wrap Up
- Video: Extra Video: Interview with Abiodun Williams - The Hague Institute for Global Justice
- Video: Extra Video: Interview with Edwin Bakker - Cooperation in the Field of Counterterrorism
- Reading: Additional Readings
- Reading: Assignment Instructions
Graded: Test your knowledge
Graded: Final Exam
WEEK 7
Handing in the UNSC Reform Groups Proposals
Please note that during week 7, there are no lectures and assigned readings. The purpose of the week is for the students participating in the UN Security Council reform group assignment to hand in their proposals. The deadline is on Wednesday of this week at 13:00 CET. If you were unable to participate in the group assignment but would like to in the future, in 6 weeks the assignment will be available again!
1 reading
- Reading: Handing in the assignment
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Creators
Universiteit Leiden
Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge in applying for academic posts and for functions outside academia.
Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was founded in February 1575, as a gift from William of Orange to the citizens of Leiden after they had withstood a long siege by the Spanish. Our motto is: Praesidium Libertatis — Bastion of Liberty.
Ratings and Reviews
Just completed the course (without partaking in the 7th week group assignment) and I found it to be a very interesting, well put together, informative and professional course. The lectures were interesting and the lecturers very enthusiastic. I feel like I have learned so much and am very grateful for the time and effort put into this course. Thank you to the course organisers. I would highly recommend this course to other learners.
A very relevant course with good instructors and study material collection.
A great refresher on International Relations and an excellent introduction to how international institutions operate. Highly recommend to anyone interested in learning the basics of global politics.
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An excellent introduction to the world of international relations, with great teachers and supporting material.