BSSb1105 International Security Policy

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Monika Gabriela Bartoszewicz, MA, MLitt, PhD (lecturer)
Mgr. Marek Dolejší (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Silvie Janičatová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Monika Gabriela Bartoszewicz, MA, MLitt, PhD
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Security and Strategic Studies – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 5. 10. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 12. 10. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 19. 10. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 26. 10. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 2. 11. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 9. 11. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 16. 11. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
BSSb1105/01: Mon 23. 11. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 30. 11. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 7. 12. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 14. 12. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 4. 1. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 11. 1. 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka
BSSb1105/02: Tue 24. 11. 8:00–9:40 exP52, Tue 1. 12. 8:00–9:40 exP52, Tue 8. 12. 8:00–9:40 exP52, Tue 15. 12. 8:00–9:40 exP52, Tue 5. 1. 8:00–9:40 exP52, Tue 12. 1. 8:00–9:40 exP52
BSSb1105/03: Wed 25. 11. 8:00–9:40 exP52, Wed 2. 12. 8:00–9:40 exP52, Wed 9. 12. 8:00–9:40 exP52, Wed 16. 12. 8:00–9:40 exP52, Wed 6. 1. 8:00–9:40 exP52, Wed 13. 1. 8:00–9:40 exP52
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! BSS105 Internat. sec. pol. && !NOW( BSS105 Internat. sec. pol. )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course is intended to introduce students to international security policy. It deals with the structure of the international security system and with global and regional (mostly European) security order. Students should be able to describe and to analyze main processes, actors and issues of the international security policy.
Learning outcomes
The course is designed to help students to:
 Familiarise themselves with the central concepts in security studies;
 Develop critical assessment skills regarding various approaches to the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of security concepts and policies;
 Gain the ability to present and critique competing scholarly arguments as well as engage with the academic and non-academic literature on international security;
 Analyse complex academic and functional problems involved in a multi-level, multi-dimensional approach to international security;
 Pursue the connections between the general and the specific through the production of substantial, analytical study informed by familiarity with the appropriate methodologies;
 Formulating lucid, precise and concise explanations and assessments of international processes in both written and oral presentations;
 promote critical engagement with the security studies literature and enable you to display this engagement by developing an ability to present, substantiate and defend complex arguments.
Transferable skills gained/developed: identifying, locating, and organising relevant source materials, self-management, problem solving, team-work and communication, analytical thinking.
Syllabus
  • First part of the course is built on lectures. In the second part, students are divided into seminar groups and focus on concrete security policies options. Both modules are complementary: while the lectures provide the students with necessary theoretical background, the seminars allow them to translate these into practice.
  • Lecture 1: Introduction to the course: The idea of security policy.
  • Lecture 2: Security for Whom? The depth of the concept: From State to International to Human Security Policies.
  • Lecture 3: Security of what (for what)? The breadth and scope of security policies.
  • Lecture 4: Security by what means? Violence, law and international structures.
  • Lecture 5: Security dilemmas, arms racing, and the ‘old’ security paradigm.
  • Lecture 6: New security challenges.
  • Week 7: Hegemony and the world order: US, Europe, China, and Russia.
Literature
    required literature
  • Extended valid list of literature in the IS (study materials)
  • Re-ordering the world. Edited by Mark Leonard. 1st pub. London: Foreign Policy Centre, 2002, xviii, 129. ISBN 1903558107. info
Teaching methods
Students will be required to do the required readings, to attend class sessions, and prepare security policy proposals. Group activities are included in this course.
Assessment methods
Students will receive a final grade for the semester based on the following components:
1. Class activity (SEMINARS ONLY!): To prepare students to be effective participants in security policy debates, class participation counts for the final grade and will be evaluated. Seminars are designed for students to discuss the ideas found in the required and supplementary readings. Students should read all required readings, as these will form the basis for the issues discussed during each class, as well as one supplementary reading, which will provide specific knowledge about the topic under scrutiny. This course will be discussion-driven, so you need to come to class prepared to interact and reflect on the things you have read. You must prepare to discuss each reading. In class, you will be expected to have a copy of the reading with you that you can refer to. You need to refer to specific page numbers. You need to know the name of each author so you can refer to them as you go. The participation grade includes being involved in class discussions based on the readings and lectures, and being an active participant in all class activities. The maximum score for participation requires: regular attendance and contribution to the learning environment of the course by asking thoughtful questions (in response to readings, lectures and class discussions), offering comments on course material that show insightful reflection, analysis of material and synthesis of concepts, demonstrating an ability to link theory to cases and current events, etc. A minimal participation grade will be assigned for regular attendance without the above-stated contributions to class discussions. Students are expected to prepare thoroughly, attend consistently, and engage actively in class discussions.
2. In-term written test: Test includes 12 multiple choice questions based on the content of the lectures delivered halfway through the semester and required readings. The date of the test will be provided during the first lecture. In case of authorised absence (according to norms of the MU or specific approval obtained in advance from the lecturer) an alternative date for the test will be provided. There is no resit of the test.
3. Final Exam: There will be a final in-class written exam, consisting of three questions: two theory-based pertaining to the required readings and discussions in class and one focusing on various issues of security systems and actors. Each question is worth 5 points. During the oral exam the following criteria will be taken into consideration:
 knowledge of the main theories and debates;
 knowledge of the core readings and main arguments presented therein;
 ability to support one’s claim with additional readings and/or case studies;
 ability to present logical argumentation;
 critical analysis of the problem supported by references to current issues pertaining to various security issues.
Grading: The overall grading scale is as follows: A 47 – 43; B 42 – 37; C 36 – 32; D 31 – 27; E 26 – 21.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
Readings: There is one recommended basic textbook required for this course which provides a very general overview of the field and should be especially useful for students who have had little or no exposure to this topic. This book takes issue-centred approach to the topic using a variety of theoretical perspectives. Additionally, students will be assigned specific readings (articles or book chapters) for seminars. All reading material will be made available for the students beforehand to allow them time to prepare accordingly.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2020/BSSb1105