Global Governance and Human Development

Full course description

Human development is profoundly influenced by the rules set in international agreements. Global governance has the potential to address some of the most difficult policy challenges that affect people and communities across the globe. Negotiating policy solutions at a global level however presents a challenge of its own. This first course of the specialisation on Global Governance for Development explores the role of global governance institutions in fostering the development of human potential and equality. Working with a real-life case study, the participants of the course will examine the roles, structure and functioning of global governance institutions. They will get an opportunity to develop and exercise, in a simulated setting, a set of skills relevant for working in an international environment, and gain experience of negotiating a global treaty on artificial intelligence that safeguards fundamental human rights.

The course ‘Global Governance and Human Development’ consists of a series of topical lectures and workshops complemented by hands-on tutorials. In tutorials, students will work both independently and jointly, and combine their theoretical and policy-relevant knowledge to advance the case study of global governance of artificial intelligence in the context of human rights. Week one of the course will introduce the global governance system and examine the roles and mandates that various global actors, including international organisations, governments, and non-state actors, have in addressing human development. Students will learn about the foundations of the United Nations (UN) system and get to know how select UN bodies function. A workshop on policy brief and memo writing will offer practical tools for preparing written policy documents such as background briefs and negotiation position memoranda.

In week two, students will explore the challenges that artificial intelligence poses to human development and human rights, and learn about the current state of global governance of artificial intelligence. In week three, they will explore the potential for participatory global governance and work with a draft of a global agreement. Two workshops on international negotiations will equip course participants with the skills crucial for policy cooperation in a global multi-stakeholder context. In the last week of the course, students will put their acquired skills to a practical test in a simulated negotiation of a global treaty. The concluding session will bring together the theoretical insights, analytical considerations, and lessons learnt from the negotiation exercise and the case study.