3 ECTS credits
90 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 6001617FNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
This course advances students’ understanding of the extent to which existing global governance structures (international organisations and related regulatory frameworks) are contributing to the realisation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. It is framed in accordance with the five dimensions of this consensually agreed UN Agenda, or the 5 P’s: prosperity, partnership, people, peace and planet. The dimensions of prosperity and partnership examine how international trade (WTO), investment (World Bank, OECD, regional development banks) and development assistance, including structural adjustment programmes (World Bank, IMF, DAC), contribute to reducing poverty and closing the development gap. It also deals with the new international frameworks that should improve corporate social responsibility and the sustainability of business transactions (OECD guidelines and Business and Human Rights). The people dimension examines how labour (ILO and decent work) and health (WHO and pandemic control) help reduce exclusion and how global governance helps provide relief and refugee protection in humanitarian emergency situations (OCHA, UNHCR, IOM). The planetary dimension examines the global responses to climate change (UNFCCC) and loss of biodiversity (CBD) and how environmental conflicts are being addressed on a transnational global scale. The peace dimension examines the global attempts to prevent war between states (Security Council, Chapter VII, PKO) and war within states (good governance). In each dimension, strengths and weaknesses of existing global governance will be assessed and possible improvements will be discussed. Although the course focuses on the global governance of sustainable development, the role of the EU in each of these dimensions at the global level is also addressed.
This course will only be given in English.
All study materials are distributed to the students through Canvas.
Complementary study material: books and articles, available in the VUB library.
- Conceptualise the economic, social, environmental and political challenges of globalisation and the international framework for Sustainable Development.
- Critically assess whether existing global governance structures (international and regional organisations) and their regulatory frameworks and actions effectively respond to those challenges in line with their statutory documents and the 2030 Agenda.
- Formulate recommendations to improve the working of those global governance structures to respond better to the globalisation challenges.
- Draw solid conclusions on the main frameworks that are needed to realise the objectives of sustainable development and their targets.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
LEC Paper determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the LEC Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Students are requested to form teams (of maximum 4) around a topic of their choice and to produce a Joint Research Paper (in English) that clearly identifies and describes a particular globalisation challenge, analyses and evaluates the relevant action undertaken by the competent global governance structures to address the challenge, and formulate recommendations for further action.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of International and European Law: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of International and European Law: Standaard traject