Nation-states and organizations made up of nation-states (such as the
UN or WTO) have tended to get the lion’s share of attention in the
study of international relations.  This is very understandable.
After all, much, if not all, of their interaction is well-documented,
easy to observe, and of great significance to their citizens. And
yet, nation-states and inter-governmental organization are not alone
in the sea of global politics.  A major trend in contemporary
international relations has been the growing significance of non-
state actors to both governments and their citizens.  This is not a
new phenomenon – for example, the Catholic Church, still a
significant non-state actor, predates the formation of nation-states –
but modern technological and political changes are leading to a
proliferation and strengthening of transnational organizations.
This course will provide a basic introduction to the study of such
actors, focusing on their behavior and significance.  Actors to be
included are: multinational corporations, terrorist organizations,
transnational advocacy groups (often called non-governmental
organizations), global media outlets, and others.