The study of international organizations is central to understanding international law and politics at the dawn of the 21st century. International institutions are at the heart of the interaction between law and politics, a basic theme of the Fletcher curriculum and the core approach of this field.
The field offers students an opportunity to study the norms and rules that govern international relations and the institutions where those rules are formulated and implemented. In addition to providing a strong foundation on the theory and practice of international organizations in general, this field covers substantive areas of international activity in which institutions play a central role, such as human rights, peacekeeping, the environment, and international trade.
Students who specialize in the field acquire:
- basic knowledge of the nature and functions of international institutions – both formal organizations and less formal arrangements
- an understanding of the role institutions play in the development of international law and policy
- an ability to think critically about the significance of international organizations to contemporary world affairs.
The International Organizations field of study requires the completion of a minimum of three courses.