GLCb1005 Fundamentals in Political Science and Security Studies

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Aneta Pinková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Věra Stojarová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Catherine Girard (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Věra Stojarová, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: doc. PhDr. Věra Stojarová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites
none
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
The course serves as the introduction to political science and security studies. The focus will be given on the application of different theories. The course is aimed at the students enrolled in the BA study programme Global Challenges: Politics, Society, Environment.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, a student will be able to identify and summarize the most important theories in both political science and security studies and apply the knowledge gained. The student will be able to analyse given problem out of political science/security studies field based on the theoretical framework learnt.
Syllabus
  • 1. Political science
  • Danzinger, James N. – Smith Charles Anthony. 2016. Understanding the Political World. A Comparative Introduction to Political Science, Twelfth Edition. Boston: Pearson, pp. 3-7, 9-18.
  • Heywood, Andrew. 2013. Politics. Fourth edition. London: Macmillan education, Palgrave, pp. 2-26.
  • 2. Political ideologies
  • Heywood, Andrew. 2013. Politics. Fourth edition. London: Macmillan education, Palgrave, pp. 27-55.
  • 3. Political regimes
  • Danzinger, James N. – Smith Charles Anthony. 2016. Understanding the Political World. A Comparative Introduction to Political Science, Twelfth Edition. Boston: Pearson, pp. 163-175.
  • Heywood, Andrew. 2013. Politics. Fourth edition. London: Macmillan education, Palgrave, pp. 80-107.
  • 4. Political systems
  • Danzinger, James N. – Smith Charles Anthony. 2016. Understanding the Political World. A Comparative Introduction to Political Science, Twelfth Edition. Boston: Pearson, pp. 176-185.
  • Heywood, Andrew. 2013. Politics. Fourth edition. London: Macmillan education, Palgrave, pp. 284-300, 309-318, 332-340, 344-350.
  • 5. Political participation and elections
  • Danzinger, James N. – Smith Charles Anthony. 2016. Understanding the Political World. A Comparative Introduction to Political Science, Twelfth Edition. Boston: Pearson, pp. 64-73.
  • Heywood, Andrew. 2013. Politics. Fourth edition. London: Macmillan education, Palgrave, pp. 196-220.
  • 6. Party systems
  • Danzinger, James N. – Smith Charles Anthony. 2016. Understanding the Political World. A Comparative Introduction to Political Science, Twelfth Edition. Boston: Pearson, pp. 188-191.
  • Heywood, Andrew. 2013. Politics. Fourth edition. London: Macmillan education, Palgrave, pp. 221-243.
  • 7. Reading week
  • 8. Security Studies and International Relations. Security for Whom? Realist and liberal tradition. Collective security.
  • Zedner, Lucia. The concept of security: an agenda for comparative analysis. In: Legal Studies. Volume 23, Issue 1, Page 153-175, Mar 2003. Available on: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1748-121X.2003.tb00209.x
  • Baldwin, A. David. The concept of security. In: Review of International Studies. 1997, 23, 5-26. Available on http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FRIS%2FRIS23_01%2FS0260210597000053a.pdf&code=7d1c1cfe4f9b0b256ca4bcf617ba24df (21 pages)
  • Morgenthau, Hans J. Politics among nations. The struggle for Power and Peace. New York, 1963, s. 3-15; 412-424. (24 pages) Available in the IS, Study materials.
  • Waltz, Kenneth N. Reason, Will and Weapons. In: Political Science Quarterly, Vol 74, n. 3, sep.1959, 412-419 (available on www.jstor.org)
  • Waltz, Kenneth N. Kant, Liberalism and war. In: The American Political Science Review. Vol 56, No. 1, 1962, p. 331-342. (available on www.jstor.org)
  • 9. Copenhagen school.
  • Buzan, Barry-Waever, Ole-de Wilde, Kaap. Security. A New Framework for Analysis. Lynne Rienner Publishers 1998 London. First chapter. Security Analysis: Conceptual Apparatus. Available on is. (20 pp)
  • 10. Regional security, failed states, collapsed states, failing states, warlords.
  • Rotberg, R. Failed states, collapsed states, weak states: causes and indicators. In: Rotberg, R. State failure and state weakness in a time of a terror. Cambridge 2003. (26 pp)
  • 11. Human security, security and gender, children in conflict, organized crime, health and security, migration.
  • Prezelj, I. Challenges in Conceptualizing and Providing Human Security. In: HUMSEC, Issue 2. Available at http://www.etc-graz.at/cms/fileadmin/user_upload/humsec/Journal/Prezelj.pdf
  • Collins, A. Contemporary Security Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. Selected chapters available in is.
  • 12. Case study: Security in the Balkan region
  • Missiroli, Antonio. Ed. The EU and the world: players and policies post-Lisbon. A handbook. Institute for Security Studies Paris 2016, pp 11-118.
  • 13. Far right and far left in security studies.
  • Cas Mudde. The Study of Populist Radical Right Parties: Towards a Fourth Wave, University of Oslo and University of Georgia. (22 pp). At http://www.sv.uio.no/c-rex/english/publications/c-rex-working-paper-series/Cas%20Mudde%3A%20The%20Study%20of%20Populist%20Radical%20Right%20Parties.pdf.
  • March, Luke. Contemporary Far Left Parties in Europe. From Marxism to the Mainstream: Berlin: Fridrich Ebert Stiftung 2008. At http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id/ipa/05818.pdf. (21 pp)
Literature
  • see Syllabus
Teaching methods
The course is designed as a series of lectures followed by seminar sessions. The students are required to study the reading materials assigned every week.
Assessment methods
1) Presentation and participation in discussions (maximum 10 points)
2) Paper (maximum 30 points)
3) Pass the test (maximum 80 points)

Evaluation:
A. 120-110 points
B. 109-100 points
C. 99-90 points
D. 89-80 points
E. 79-72 points
F. > 71 points
Language of instruction
English
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
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