Curso 2025/2026 | guias.usal.es

Curso Académico 2025/2026

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Estudios Globales / Global Studies

1. Subject Information

(Date last modified: 30-04-25 12:09)

Code: 140513
Plan: 405
ECTS: 6.00

Type: Compulsory
Year: 2
Duration: First semester

Language: ENGLISH

Area

Departament: Derecho Público General

Virtual platform: Campus Virtual de la Universidad de Salamanca

Professor Information

Profesor/Profesora: José Javier Laso Pérez
Group/s: Único

Centre: Fac. Derecho

Office: 229

Office hours: Lunes, martes, miércoles, de 12h.00 a 14h.00

Web address: http://campus.usal.es/~derechointernacionalpublico/profesorado/javier-laso-lopez/

E-mail: jjlasop@usal.es
Phone: 923294500 ext. 6963

2. Association of the subject matter within the study plan

Curricular area to which the subject matter pertains.

International Relations

Purpose of the subject within the curricular area and study plan.

This course aims to study the creation, functions and normative regime of international organizations (general part) as well as the regime of particular international organizations, with a special reference to the United Nations (UN) It is therefore essential in order to understand the legal order of International Organizations and complementary to others like EU law, Public International Law, International Relations and Diplomacy and Foreign Policy

Professional profile.

The course offers an essential training in skills related to the civil service, at various levels of the Public Administrations in International Organizations. The contents and techniques of this subject are also necessary in the training of any political scientist, civil servant of the administration, etc.

3. Prerequisites

It is recommended to have passed “International Relations” and “Public International Law” belonging to the first course of the Degree

4. Learning objectives

At the end of the course the student will have acquired a series of basic skills which will make him or her capable of developing a reflexing and critic attitude in relation to several problems and challenges that affect the International society, In concrete:

To be able to identify and explain the main defining characters of international organizations. .

To be able to show knowledge and understanding of the different types of organizations in order to grasp their political, economic and social contexts

To understand: the contents and limits of the International Organization legal status, both in international and domestic law; their different nature; and their main types.

To acquire and demonstrate a sound opinion on the studied Organizations and their activities.

5. Contents

Theory.

I. GENERAL PART

1.—HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL OEGANIZATIONS. International cooperation and global governance.

2.- THE CONCEPT AND CLASSIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

-Definition and elements of International Organizations.

-Typology

3.- THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS-

International Organizations as instruments, actors and arenas

4.- THE LEGAL EXISTENCE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The nature of International Organizations. International legal personality. Dissolution, succession, adaptation.

5.- INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR MEMBERS

Admission. Withdrawal. Expulsion, suspension and related techniques

6.- ORGANS OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

The structure of international organizations.

7. –INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AS LAW-MAKERS

II.- UNIVERSAL ORGANIZATIONS

8.- THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

The idea of the United Nations

Principal structure

9.- THE UNITED NATIONS IN ACTION

Peace and Security.

10. THE UNITED NATIONS IN ACTION. Decolonization.

11. THE UNITED NATIONS IN ACTION.

Human rights and development

12. THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT.

III. REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

13.- REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN EUROPE

14. REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN AMERICA

Practice.

The course will be offered using a combination of lectures and class discussions. The students are expected to prepare and debate the course materials in the class.

6. Competences acquired

Basic / General.

CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4

A1, A3, A4, A5

Specific.

B7, B11, B12, B13

7. Teaching methods

The proposed teaching method will be based on a combination of theoretical classes with a practical approach to the reality of international society. In doing so, dialogue with the students will be fostered with the aim of developing in them the ability to expose and defend reasoned arguments on international issues. Practical teaching will be based on the analysis of cases or the reading of texts that will be available on the Studium platform. It is advisable to keep abreast of the international news.

8. Anticipated distribution of the use of the different teaching methods

9. Resources

Reference books.

KLABBERS, Jan: Advanced Introduction to the Law of International Organizations, Elgar Advanced Introductions series, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2015.
CONFORTI, B.; FOCARELLI, C.: The Law and Practice of the United Nations, 5th rev. ed., Legal Aspects of International Organization Vol. 57, Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden, 2016.
KLABBERS, Jan: An Introduction to International Organizations Law, 3rd ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2015.
ARCHER, C. International Organization, 4th ed., London, Routledge, 2001
HURD, I.: International organizations: politics, law, practice, Cambridge University Press, 2013..

10. Assessment

Assessment criteria.

The assessment instruments will be the following:

Passing the exam. The modality of the exam will be a multiple-choice test (70 % of the final mark).
Hand in the case studies and an active participation in practical and theoretical classes and seminars (30 %).

Assessment recommendations.

Recomendaciones para la recuperación.

The requisites for the second exam are the same of those for the ordinary call.

Guidelines in the case of failing the subject.