Institution
Södertörn University, School of Natural Sciences, Environment and Technology, Department for Environment and Tourism

Web Site
https://www.sh.se/program--kurser/program/grund/utveckling-och-internationellt-samarbete

Factual description
A search was made for courses dealing with complex issues at the School of Natural Sciences, Environment and Technology. Within the program Development and International relations three courses we found, the curricula and course materials were analysed and a focus group interview was conducted with the responsible teachers.
The course covers theories for international cooperation, considering areas such as security, economy, environment, human rights and sustainable development. The basis of the course is states' degree of interdependence and the extent to which this stimulates or counteracts shared problem-solving. The course also problematises factors such as competing interests and national sovereignty, which may lead to states forgoing cooperation. One particular focus is on relations and collaborations between the global North and Global South, as well as within the Global South. Themes on the course also include intergovernmental organisations, the emergence and change of international institutions and informal movements over time, as well as aid issues.

Relevance in complex systems
Focusing in international relations related sustainable development, the course provides theoretical tools to disentangle various relations like geopolitics, aid, trade, peacekeeping. Different typse of organizations, like INGOs, NGOs, TNC, MNC, social movements and national governments, are linked to the respective types of relations. The theoretical frameworks presented conceptualizes how these different relations are formed, how they play out, and how they influence the respective partners

Strong points
The strong points are the extensive mapping of organizations, relations and performance of the relations. Next is the combination of theory and practical examples that is accomplished through the write up of course-papers on selected topics with examples of organisations, relations and performance.

Transferability potential
The examples of system actors and relations of various types may be applied also in other contexts.