BSSb1105 International Security Policy

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2022
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Vendula Divišová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lucie Konečná, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Andrei Kalavur (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Jiří Němec (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Vendula Divišová, Ph.D.
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 12. 9. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 19. 9. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 26. 9. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 3. 10. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 10. 10. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 17. 10. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 24. 10. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
BSSb1105/01: Mon 31. 10. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 7. 11. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 14. 11. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 21. 11. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 28. 11. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 5. 12. 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy
BSSb1105/02: Tue 1. 11. 8:00–9:40 U34, Tue 8. 11. 8:00–9:40 U34, Tue 15. 11. 8:00–9:40 U34, Tue 22. 11. 8:00–9:40 U34, Tue 29. 11. 8:00–9:40 U34, Tue 6. 12. 8:00–9:40 U34
BSSb1105/03: Wed 2. 11. 8:00–9:40 P22, Wed 9. 11. 8:00–9:40 P22, Wed 16. 11. 8:00–9:40 P22, Wed 23. 11. 8:00–9:40 P22, Wed 30. 11. 8:00–9:40 P22, Wed 7. 12. 8:00–9:40 P22
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
there are 21 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
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: International security. Basic theories and concepts. Lecture 2: Security of what? Evolution of international security studies. Lecture 3: Security for Whom? From State to International to Human Security Policies. Lecture 4: Security by what means? Power, violence and security dilemmas. Lecture 5: Old and new security challenges. Lecture 6: International organizations and regimes.
Literature
  • Alan Collins (ed.), Contemporary Security Studies (Oxford 2007).
  • Re-ordering the world. Edited by Mark Leonard. 1st pub. London: Foreign Policy Centre, 2002, xviii, 129. ISBN 1903558107. info
  • Extended valid list of literature in the IS (study materials)
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
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. 2. In-term written test: Test includes 12 multiple choice questions based on the content of the lectures delivered up to October 17 and required readings up to Lecture 6. October 24, 2022 (Lecture 6) is the date of the in-term test. 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 closed questions with multiple correct answers. 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 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2022/BSSb1105