BSS403 Comparative Analysis of Security Policy

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2018
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 9 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Monika Gabriela Bartoszewicz, MA, MLitt, PhD (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.
Division of Security and Strategic Studies – 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
Tue 9:45–11:15 P22
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 as a comparative analysis of security policy at various levels and in various security sectors. The general theme of the module might be summarised as ‘from security policy to state action’. The goal of the course is to develop and strengthen students’ skills in understanding and analysis of various parts of comparison and analysis of security policies. A secondary goal of the course is to demonstrate how the comparative method and policy analysis are used within the research of security field.
Learning outcomes
Students are able to use comparative policy analysis in their research activities in various security sectors and dimensions.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the course. 2. Conceptualising security policy. 3. Stages of the security policy cycle. 4. Comparative design: case studies and causal process tracing. 5. Comparative design: Intermediate N-comparison (configurational comparative methods). 6. Comparative design: Quantitative methodologies. 7. Comparative design: Interpretative analysis and comparative research. 8. Homeland security, public health, and military policy. 9. Critical Infrastructure protection, cyber-security, and border security. 10. Counter-terrorism, immigration, and community policing. 11. Group Project Presentations 12. Group Project Presentations 13. Group Project Presentations
Literature
    required literature
  • Bain, William, ed. The Empire of Security and the Safety of the People. Routledge, 2006.
  • Fischer, Frank, and Gerald J. Miller, eds. Handbook of public policy analysis: theory, politics, and methods. crc Press, 2006.
  • Hough, Peter. Understanding global security. Routledge, 2014.
  • Comparative Government and Politics, 8th edition, by Rod Hague, Martin Harrop (ISBN: 9780230231023).
  • Extended valid list of literature is in the section study materials.
  • Engeli, Isabelle, C. Rothmayr Allison, and Christine Rothmayr Allison, eds. Comparative policy studies: Conceptual and methodological challenges. Springer, 2014.
Teaching methods
Students will be required to do the required readings, to attend class sessions, and to engage in case study analysis, comparative research and policy analysis in both in writing and verbally during classes. Group activities are included in this course.
Assessment methods
Students will receive a final grade for the semester based on the following components: Activity and discussion during class (10 points), Comparative study project presentation (10 points), Term paper (15 points), Final exam (15 points).
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2019, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2018, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2018/BSS403