CST:CZS44 International Security - Course Information

CZS44 International Relations & Threats to Global Security

Extent and Intensity

0/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

Ing. Mgr. Richard Turcsányi, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Urbanovská, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Hedvika Koďousková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jakub Drmola, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. JUDr. PhDr. Marek Čejka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lukáš Lehotský, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

Mgr. Martin Glogar
Contact Person: Mgr. Martin Glogar
Supplier department: Pan-university studies

Prerequisites (in Czech)

SOUHLAS

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Short-Term Intensive Programs (programme CST, KOS)

Course objectives

The International Security in the Modern World program is designed to give students an understanding of some of the fundamental international security issues and their implications for Europe and the world.
The participants of this course will:
• Come to understand dynamics of providing security in the past and present in the European continent
• Critically analyse the international organisations (such as the UN and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) that deal with these issues, and
• Consider how Europe and the world has responded to these issues so far and the international responses that might be required in future for these and future global threats

Syllabus

• Module 1: Introduction to the conceptualization of security Instructor: Richard Turcsányi
• The introductory bloc of the course will present various answers to the question of what the security is and how we can work with it. It will discuss the differences in understanding and operating the concept in international relations, strategic studies and security studies. In the first lecture we will discuss major traditions of international relations such as realism, liberalism and constructivism as well as their distinct theories in the field of security studies, such as neorealism, (neo)liberal institutionalism and Copenhagen school. In the second day a development of security arrangements in Europe will be presented. We will discuss a number of case studies demonstrating a shift from the traditional view of national security centred on state sovereignty and military towards modern approaches aimed at the individual and community and encompassing military as well as non-military threats. We will end up our brief historic excursion with the discussion of humanitarian intervention as a major example of transformed understanding and practice of security in Europe and the world.
• Module 2: Current security arrangement in Europe and its position in the world Instructor: Jana Urbanovská
• This two day session deals with current security arrangements in Europe. The first part of the session will be devoted to the European Union, more specifically to the gradual development, current state and future perspectives of its role as a regional/global security actor. The second part of the session will turn to the role of other international organizations engaged in conflict management on the European continent. In this regard, we will discuss the interactions between the European Union and the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
• Module 3: Military threats in contemporary world Instructor: Miroslav Mares
• The session is focused on military threats in contemporary world. First part deals with conceptualization of contemporary military threats, mostly with various forms of armed conflicts. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and issues of insurgency and counterinsurgency are analysed as specific military threats in 21st century. Second part is based on research of interactions between military sphere and extremism. General relations between extremism and military are conceptualized. Special attention will be paid to two challenges of contemporary Europe – foreign fighters and paramilitarism in extremist milieu.
• Module 4: Cyber security Instructor: Jakub Drmola
• Importance of cyber security is growing with each passing year as new types of threats emerge. Ever since the end days of the Cold War and through the 2YK, there have been worries about potential risks and the fragility of our dependence on information technology. Some of these concerns have been eventually vindicated in recent years and conflict in cyberspace has become a common sight. Nowadays whole range of actors execute wide spectrum of attacks for various reasons - from international warfare simultaneously supported by operations in cyberspace, to profit-oriented cybercrime and ideologically motivated mass blockades of corporate infrastructure. This module explores these ongoing phenomena (cyber warfare, hacktivism, sabotage, etc.), recently uncovered developments such as surveillance, and even conspicuously missing (yet widely discussed and publicized) manifestations of cyber terrorism and similar concepts.
• Module 5: Energy security Instructor: Hedvika Koďousková
• The session will introduce the basic theories and concepts associated with the term “energy security” and provide some illustrations on the international energy relations. Throughout the lecture, competing definitions of energy security and contemporary theoretical framework will be outlined. The main attention will be paid to the currently prevailing distinction between strategic (geopolitics) and market (economics) approaches. The second half will further work with “energy geopolitics” as one of the presented approaches. The leading concepts of “resource nationalism” as well as “resource mercantilism” will be discussed to illustrate energy politics of major producers and consumers and development of their mutual relations. At the same time, strong and weak points of the theoretical approach will be assessed critically.
• Module 6: Religious radicalism in Middle East and its threat for Europe Instructor: Marek Cejka
• Module 7: Ukraine conflict Instructor: Lukáš Lehotský
• The course will focus on the security dimension of the current conflict in Ukraine. The first part of the lecture will deal briefly with the history of the Russian-Ukrainian relations since 1990’s until now. The second part will reflect on different theoretical explanations of the conflict. Mary Kaldor argues that conflicts of 21st century are different from wars waged in 20th century. John Maersheimer argues that the conflict in Ukraine has been provoked by the West. Samuel Huntington has argued that Ukraine is a torn country, therefore the conflict is inevitable. These and other competing perspectives on the conflict will be discussed.

Teaching methods (in Czech)

lectures, seminars, class discussion, site visits, excursions, presentations by professionals in the sectors, reading

Assessment methods

Mini-test: Set of short questions, on the preliminary readings and content of the week 20%, Final Test: set of analytical questions 30%, Essay (1,500-2,000 words)) 35%, In-class participation 15%. Late penalty 2% will be deducted per day for late work

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 48 hodin výuky + 6 exkurzí.

Teacher's information

http://ois.muni.cz/en/?option=com_content&view=article&id=496&Itemid=764

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2015, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/cus/autumn2015/CZS44