INTER2000 – Case Work in International Studies
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
In this course you will develop your ability to act resolutely and operatively in situations marked by time pressure, high stakes, and high risk.
The action in question is to provide policy advice to state- or other leaders responsible for making important, even vital, decision in international affairs. Diplomatic crises often evolve quickly and demand rapid, yet carefully considered action.
The cases in this course cover international negotiations during crises concerning security policy, human rights, and economic issues. It involve governments, companies, and international organizations.
The course is based solely on case work. Most of the cases are suitable for simple simulation exercises with multiple actors.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
You will know:
- The basic facts of a number of historically consequential cases of international crisis, including political circumstances, the key actors and their strategic interaction
- How analytical frameworks from the negotiation literature can be applied to actual cases in order to understand the political dynamics at work
Skills
You will be able to:
- Analyze a complex problem in international affairs from several perspectives
- Develop and present advice to policy-makers or negotiators
- Evaluate policy advice presented by others
- Be able to communicate academic knowledge in writing and orally and provide constructive criticism of other students’ assignments.
- Understand the dynamics involved in strategic interaction
Competences
You will:
- Know how to write a decision memo or a position paper, useful in many work situations
- Grasp a complex case quickly and under time pressure, dissect complexity and draw a time line
- Have experience with working in groups
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
This course is only for students at the Bachelor's Programme in International Studies.
Recommended previous knowledge
INTER1000 – Innføringsemne i internasjonale studier
Teaching
Lectures and seminars.
Compulsory activities
- Attend the first seminar
- Present four pieces of written work in the seminars:
- two lead authorships of cases
- two written comments to other students work
See the faculty's rules for reassignment of seminar groups and requirements for compulsory activities.
Absence from compulsory activities
If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.
Examination
Portfolio examination.
The portfolio examination must consist of:
- Writing two lead authorship policy notes.
- Giving feedback on two other lead authorship policy notes.
- The word limit for the memo is 2500 words. The word limit for the comments is 500 words.
- Fulfill the formal requirements for submission of written assignments.
The four parts are evaluated together and given one, overall grade.
You must have passed the compulsory activities in order to sit the exam.
Previous exams and examinations guidelines.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.