International security studies
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Current cases and theoretical debates
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Aims and scope:
This course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the subject of security studies, with a strong emphasis on the use of case studies to illustrate theoretical debates. In addition to presenting the major theoretical perspectives, the book examines a range of important and controversial topics in covering both traditional military and non-military security issues such as WMD proliferation, humanitarian intervention, food security and environmental security. The course also offers a wide range of case studies providing detailed analyses of important global security issues.
The course contents are divided into five major thematic sections: conceptual and theoretical, military security, non-military security, institutions and security, case studies. The course includes new topics on cybersecurity and the insecurity of the LGBT community, an analysis of important international political developments, such as the Trump Presidency, ‘Brexit’, the North Korean nuclear standoff, the Syrian Civil War, the Yemen Civil War, the Mediterranean migration crisis, climate change diplomacy and the Sustainable Development Goals.
This course is aimed at all students of security studies, as well as students of critical security studies, human security, peace and conflict studies, foreign policy and International Relations in general.
Topics:
Section I: Conceptual and theoretical: 1. Framing a discipline Shahin Malik. 2. The traditional routes to security: realism and liberalism Edward Smith. 3. Challenging orthodoxy: critical security studies Shahin Malik. 4. Feminist security studies Wendy Stokes. 5. Human security Shahin Malik. 6. Constructing security Shahin Malik. Section II: Military security: 7. Reflecting on war and peace Bruce Pilbeam. 8. New wars, globalisation and failed states Bruce Pilbeam. 9. Nuclear Proliferation Andrew Moran. 10. The international arms trade in conventional weapons Bruce Pilbeam. 11. Terrorism Andrew Moran. 12. Religion and international conflict Jeffrey Haynes. 13. Intelligence and security Andrew Moran. 14. The rise of private military and security companies Bruce Pilbeam. Section III: Non-military security: 15. Environmental security Peter Hough. 16. Crime and security Peter Hough. 17. The Securitization of LGBT Communities in Uganda Martin Ridley. 18. Food security Peter Hough. 19. Health and security Peter Hough. 20. Disasters and security Peter Hough. 21. Migration and security Peter Hough and Bruce Pilbeam. 22. Cybersecurity Andrew Moran. Section IV: Institutions and security: 23. The United Nations and the Responsibility to Protect Bruce Pilbeam. 24. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation: Continuity and Change Andrew Moran. 25. Regional Security Organisations Peter Hough. Section V: Case studies: 26. The United States: finding a role in the post-cold war and post-9/11 eras Andrew Moran. 27. Russia, the Black Sea Region and Security Tunc Aybak. 28. China: Security and Threat Perceptions Peter Hough and Shahin Malik. 29. Security in Europe: the triumph of institution building? Dermot McCann. 30. Security in Africa Peter Hough. 31. The Arctic Peter Hough. 32. The Arab Spring and Democracy: Problems and Prospects Jeffrey Haynes. 33. The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Ronald Ranta. 34. Korea Peter Hough. 35. Latin America Lloyd Pettiford and Neil Hughes. 36. Space and Security Ian Shields. 37. Conclusion: where to next? Shahin Malik.
Indicative reading:
Hough, P., Pilbeam, B., Stokes, W. (2020). International Security Studies: Theory and Practice. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.
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