CDSn4005 Security Systems and Actors

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Monika Gabriela Bartoszewicz, MA, MLitt, PhD (lecturer)
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 8:00–9:40 U53
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course focuses on several major themes in the study of international security with particular attention given to security systems and actors. It is organised in a seminar format, and requires that students read assigned materials prior to each class and make occasional oral presentations to facilitate discussion.
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 concepts and policies typically associated with security systems and actors; 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.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the course: The idea of security. 2. The State as security arrangement. 3. National security in the systemic perspective. 4. International society as a security arrangement. 5. Human Security. 6. International Organisations and security community. 7. Venus contra Mars: Security strategic culture. 8. EU as a security regime. 9. American strategy and hegemony. 10. America, Europe and China. 11. Arms racing, security dilemmas and the ‘old’ security paradigm. 12. New security challenges. 13. Current Event Essays Presentations.
Literature
    required literature
  • van Ham, Peter. The Power of War: Why Europe Needs It. Netherlands Institute of International Relations “Clingendael,”, 2008.
  • de Zwaan, Jaap, et al., eds. Governance and Security Issues of the European Union: Challenges Ahead. Springer, 2016.
  • Baylis, John. Strategy in the contemporary world. Oxford University Press, 2016.
  • Contemporary security studies. Edited by Alan Collins. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007, xxvii, 444. ISBN 9780199284696. info
Teaching methods
Students will be required to do the required readings, to attend class sessions, and to write a regular journal accounting for security events in world politics. Individual research is going to be presented 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: 1) Activity and discussion during class (10 points) 2) Individual Class Presentation (10 points) 3) Current Event Journal (10 points) 4) Current Event Essay (15 points) 5) Current Event Essay Presentation (10 points) 6) Final exam (15 points)
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2021/CDSn4005