857-0003-00L  Introduction to Security Studies

SemesterHerbstsemester 2017
DozierendeM. Dunn Cavelty, U. Jasper, M. Leese
Periodizitätjährlich wiederkehrende Veranstaltung
LehrspracheEnglisch
KommentarMaximale Teilnehmerzahl: 15
MACIS Studierende haben Priorität.


KurzbeschreibungThis course focuses on how the concept of security and security studies as a subfield of international relations have evolved from the Cold War to today's 'globalized' security environment. It looks at the changing landscape of threats that states and societies face, the way states organize themselves to confront these threats, and how security studies' theories can explain these developments.
LernzielThe aim of the course is to promote a critical engagement with a wide range of empirical and theoretical literature in Security Studies and by applying this theoretical material to contemporary developments in world politics. By the end of the course students should be able to understand competing contemporary definitions and theories of security and to formulate academically informed opinions about contemporary security issues and policy.
InhaltThis course draws upon a variety of theoretical perspectives in security studies to analyze the complex ways in which the world order has been threatened during and after the Cold War. To this end, the first part of the course concentrates on traditional approaches to security, while the second provides students with an overview of approaches that have ‘broadened’ and ‘deepened’ the concept of security: away from military concerns to include economic, societal, and environmental sectors, and away from the state towards notions of global and human security.
SkriptThe seminar is an opportunity to explore in depth particular issues and to engage in discussions in a small group. Students will be expected to contribute to such discussions and present short position papers. Most importantly, students will also be expected to engage in continuous independent study.
LiteraturAll texts will be available online.
Voraussetzungen / BesonderesClass will only take place with a minimum of 5 students and is limited to approx. 15 participants. MACIS students are given priority.