.
International Security: Theories, Concepts and Issues
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:4.00
Study Course Accepted:20.02.2024 14:49:01
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | SZF_008 | LQF level: | Level 6 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 2.67 | ECTS: | 4.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Politics; International Politics | Target Audience: | Political Science | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Māris Andžāns | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf rsu[pnkts]lv | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 10 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 20 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 10 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 20 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 40 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | Basic knowledge of the aspects of the formation of international relations. | ||||||||
| Objective: | The course "International Security: Theories, Concepts and Issues" aims to analyze the theoretical and practical aspects of international security. The course is divided into several thematic blocks, each of which focuses on specific security policy issues. The first block will analyze the concept of security, the development of security research, the different levels of security policy, the security of weak and strong states. In the second block, military threats will be discussed (especially the Russia's war in Ukraine will be highlighted), as well as the role of international organizations in ensuring peace in the world. Current "new" threats, especially those related to terrorism and the cyberspace, will be the focus of the third block. The fourth block will conclude the course with issues related to security in the Baltic States and especially in Latvia. Each of the lesson blocks will be concluded by a seminar, in which students will present their works and discuss them. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Introduction to International Security Studies. States and their national security | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | Theoretical aspects of international security | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | Practical applicability of theoretical aspects of international security | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Military threats | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | The role of international organizations in promoting peace | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Practical aspects of military security in the modern warfare environment | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | Interaction between countries and international organizations in conflict prevention | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | Midterm test | Classes | 0.50 | E-Studies platform | |||||
| 9 | Terrorism | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 10 | Theoretical and practical aspects of cyber security | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 11 | Linkage and practical synthesis of different types of security threats | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 12 | Russia's war in Ukraine | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 13 | The impact of current international events on the security of the Baltic States | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 14 | Current national security problems of the Baltic States | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 15 | Current security challenges of the Baltic States. Conclusions: further development of security issues | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 16 | Consultations before the exam | Classes | 3.00 | E-Studies platform | |||||
| 17 | Exam | Classes | 2.50 | E-Studies platform | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | The learning of the subject matter will be evaluated with the help of the following test forms: 1. participation in lectures and seminars (activity and quality of answers); 2. two essays on the topics proposed in the course description (each essay is 3 to 4 pages long, font size 12 points, 1.5 line spacing; the grade will be reduced for insufficient volume). Students can choose essay topics in any of the blocks, however, both essays must be from separate blocks of the study course and students must give a presentation on one of the topics according to the next point (only one student from each group on one topic); 3. seminar presentation – in one of the seminars, each student must prepare and deliver a 10 to 15 minute presentation on one of the chosen topics (only one student from each group on one topic within the relevant thematic block). Signup (for presentations only) – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17YVSDlWUATM-_aW3tk_…; 4. mid-term examination test before lecture 8 on the information discussed in the previous lectures and in the mandatory reading material (more information about the test will be provided during the lessons); Exam 5 – test (more information will be provided during the lessons). Students agree that, as part of the course, all submitted work will be subject to a textual comparison with Turnitin.com to check that the submitted work is not plagiarized. All submitted articles will be listed as sources in the Turnitin.com reference database with one goal - to detect plagiarism. Use of Turnitin.com services is subject to the Usage Policy, which can be found on the Turnitin.com website. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | The final mark will be the sum of all marks. Knowledge will be evaluated in a 10-point system. 1. Midterm test - 10% 2. Essays - 35% 3. Presentation - 25% 4. Activity and quality in seminars - 10% 5. Exam - test - 20% | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | Knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of International Security Studies, which will promote students' understanding and ability to navigate the problems and development trends of international security issues. | ||||||||
| Skills: | Ability to analyze theoretical and practical aspects of international security | ||||||||
| Competencies: | The ability to orientate and formulate a reasoned and justified opinion on international security issues. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | B. Buzan, People, States and Fear. An Agenda for International Security Studies in the Post-Cold War Era. 2nd ed. 2007, 145-229. | ||||||||
| 2 | Z. Šīders, Starptautisko attiecību teoriju nozīmība mūsdienās. No: M. Andžāns (Zin.red.), Starptautiskā drošība. Rakstu krājums, 2019, 90-100. (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 3 | B. Buzan, O. Wæver un J. de Wilde, Security: A New Framework for Analysis, Boulder, London, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1998, 49-70. (Jaunāks izdevums nav izdots) | ||||||||
| 4 | O. Trēnerts, Vai iespējama pasaule bez masu iznīcināšanas ieročiem? No: M. Andžāns (Zin.red.), Starptautiskā drošība. Rakstu krājums, 2019, 66-77. (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 5 | D. Galbreath. International Regimes and Organizations. No: T. C. Salmon, M. F. Imber (Red.), Issues in International Relations, Second Edition, Routledge, 2008, 121-135. | ||||||||
| 6 | N. MacQueen. Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding. No: T. C. Salmon, M. F. Imber (Red.), Issues in International Relations, Second Edition, Routledge, 2008, 182-194. | ||||||||
| 7 | F. Rotmanis. ANO un globālā drošība. No: M. Andžāns (Zin.red.), Starptautiskā drošība. Rakstu krājums, 2019, 24-34. (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 8 | D. Brown. Terrorism. No: T. C. Salmon, M. F. Imber (Red.), Issues in International Relations. Second Edition, 2008, 107-120. | ||||||||
| 9 | M. E. Hathaway, A. Klimburg. Preliminary Considerations: On National Cyber Security. No: A. Klimburg (Ed.), National Cyber Security Framework Manual, 2012, 1-19. | ||||||||
| 10 | P. Pernik. The early days of cyberattacks: the cases of Estonia, Georgia and Ukraine. Hacks, Leaks and Disruptions. EU Institute for Security Studies. Chaillot Paper Nr. 148. October, 2018. 53-65. | ||||||||
| 11 | “2023. gads Latvijas kibertelpā,” CERT.LV, 2024 (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 12 | Ārlietu ministra ikgadējais ziņojums par paveikto 2023. gadā un iecerēto darbību valsts ārpolitikā un Eiropas Savienības jautājumos, Ārlietu ministrija, 2023 (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 13 | Nacionālās drošības koncepcija, Saeima, 2023 (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 14 | National Security Concept of Estonia, Riigikogu, 2023 | ||||||||
| 15 | Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Resolution Amending Resolution No IX-907 of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania of 28 May 2002 on the Approval of the National Security Strategy, Seimas, 2021 | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | “Ukraine conflict updates.” Institute of War Studies. | ||||||||
| 2 | B. Buzan and L. Hansen, The Evolution of International Security Studies, Cambridge etc., Cambridge University Press, 2009. | ||||||||
| Other Information Sources | |||||||||
| 1 | B. Buzan, O. Waever, Regions and Powers: The Structure of International Security, Cambridge University Press, 2003. | ||||||||
| 2 | J. J. Mearsheimer, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, New York, London, W. W. Norton & Company, 2001. | ||||||||
| 3 | H. J. Morgenthau, Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. | ||||||||
| 4 | S. M. Walt, Alliance Formation and the Balance of World Power, International Security, 9(4), 3-43, 1985 | ||||||||
| 5 | S. M. Walt, The Renaissance of Security Studies, International Studies Quarterly, 211-239, 35(2), 1991. | ||||||||
| 6 | K. N. Waltz, Theory of International Politics, Reading u.c., Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1979. | ||||||||
| 7 | M. Andžāns (Zin.red.), Starptautiskā drošība. Rakstu krājums, Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka, 2019. (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 8 | E. Bošs. Latvija un reģionālās lielvaras: virzoties uz 2050. gadu. No: Latvijas ārlietu simtgade: scenāriji nākotnei, Andris Sprūds, Valters Ščerbinskis, Kārlis Bukovskis, redaktori, Latvijas Ārpolitikas institūts, 2018, 43-60 (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 9 | M. Andžāns, Latvijas drošība paredzami neparedzamā starptautiskajā vidē. No: Latvijas ārlietu simtgade: scenāriji nākotnei, Andris Sprūds, Valters Ščerbinskis, Kārlis Bukovskis, redaktori, Latvijas Ārpolitikas institūts, 2018. 61-74. (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 10 | M. Andžāns, A. Sprūds, Latvijas ārējā un aizsardzības politika kopš 1991. gada. No: Latvija 1918-2018. Valstiskuma gadsimts, Ivars Ījabs, Jans Kusbers, Ilgvars Misāns, Ervīns Oberlenders, redaktori. Mansards, 2018, 233-247. (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 11 | T. Lawrence un T. Jermalavičius, redaktori, Apprenticeship, Partnership, Membership: Twenty Years of Defence Development in the Baltic States, International Centre for Defence Studies, 2013 | ||||||||
| 12 | N. Vanaga, Baltic Military Cooperation: Seeking a Common Response, National Defence Academy of Latvia, Center for Security and Strategic Research, 2016 | ||||||||
