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Security and Defence Policy of the Baltic States
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:3.00
Study Course Accepted:17.04.2024 16:30:18
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | SZF_028 | LQF level: | Level 6 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 2.67 | ECTS: | 4.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Politics | Target Audience: | Political Science | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Mārtiņš Vargulis | ||||||||
| 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) | 8 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 16 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 12 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 24 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 40 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | In order to fully master the course Security and Defence of the Baltic States, students should acquire prior knowledge in the following areas: Political knowledge: understanding of basic political theories and international political processes. International relations: understanding international public order, forms of international cooperation and the role of international organisations. History: knowledge of past events and their impact on today’s foreign policy, as well as national and regional relations. Political analysis: the ability to critically analyse policy decisions using a variety of analytical tools and methods. Intercultural communication: understanding cultural differences and their impact on international relations and diplomacy. Research skills: ability to conduct research and analyse information on foreign policy issues using a variety of sources and methods. | ||||||||
| Objective: | The objective of the course is to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the defence and security policy settings, challenges and opportunities of the Baltic States, focusing on the instruments of cooperation and influence currently at its disposal. The course will discuss the defence policies of the Baltic States, their interaction and role in the broader formats: EU, OSCE, NATO. The value represented by the objective of this course is to increase students’ understanding and awareness of security and defence policy issues of the Baltic States. It fosters both students’ ability to understand and analyse current security challenges, and the use of existing cooperation tools to address them. In addition, the course raises awareness of the role and influence of the Baltic States in the international arena, in particular their participation and involvement in international organisations. Such knowledge and understanding are essential to promote effective policy-making and cooperation to strengthen the security and defence of the Baltic States at both regional and global levels. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Security and Defence of the Baltic States: Introduction | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | Characteristics of the Security Environment. The Impact of the Development of Russian Security Policy on the Baltic States | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | Russia’s Strategic Military Doctrine Vis-à-Vis the Baltic States. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Security of the Baltic States in the Context of NATO Adaptation | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | Baltic States (Latvia) as Part of NATO | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Challenges and Opportunities. Baltic States – NATO | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | Individual classes/tutorials on the first ‘block’ | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 8 | The Baltic States and EU Common and Security Policy | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 9 | The Baltic States in the Context of New (Hybrid) Threats | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 10 | Development – Action Plan for the Defence Sector | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 11 | Individual classes/tutorials on the second ‘block’ | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 12 | Development of Latvia’s Security and Defence Policy Since Regaining Independence | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 13 | The Baltic States’ Different Vision of the Defence Doctrine | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 14 | Individual classes/tutorials on the third ‘block’ | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 15 | The Involvement and Role of International Allies in the Security of the Baltic States | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 16 | The Influence of the USA in Promoting the Security of the Baltic States | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 17 | Simulation game. Mock war | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 18 | Individual classes/tutorials on the fourth ‘block’ | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 19 | Exam | Classes | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | At the end of the course, students must prepare an analytical article. Objective – to develop the ability to identify the main problem of a topic; to identify and evaluate alternative arguments and points of view; to present one’s own point of view, explaining and arguing why this point of view is more acceptable and better than any other. The analytical article must compare all possible alternatives, considering all their weaknesses and strengths. It aims to develop the skills to independently research and evaluate the situation and problem, and to be able to develop options for solving the problem. To assess the overall quality of the study course, the student must complete the course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | The final mark is the sum of all marks. Knowledge will be assessed using 10-point grading system: ▪ Participation in lectures and seminars – activity and quality of answers 25% ▪ Written work 25% ▪ Individual project/report 25% ▪ Exam grade 25% | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | Upon completion of this course, students will have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of current security and defence policy issues of the Baltic States, their perspectives, historical development, challenges and possible solutions. The course will also develop knowledge on the impact of external factors (in particular NATO, the EU, allies and adversaries) on the overall development of defence and security policy of the Baltic States. | ||||||||
| Skills: | The course will develop skills related to discussion, negotiation, analytical cognition and argumentation. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | Competence in current security and defence policy issues in the Baltic States. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Visa literatūra ir angļu valodā un piemērota gan latviešu, gan angļu plūsmas studentiem | ||||||||
| 2 | Māris Andžāns, Evija Djatkoviča and Andris Sprūds. Post-2020 Belarus: Security and Defence Implications for the Baltic States, Poland, and NAT. 2021, Latvian Institute of International Affairs. | ||||||||
| 3 | Lukas Milevski. NATO’s defence policy dilemma in the Baltic States. Security and Defence Quarterly 2017; 14(1):51–68, | ||||||||
| 4 | Peter van Ham. The Baltic States: Security and Defence after Independence. 1995, Institute for Security Studies. | ||||||||
