International Security (JF_429)
About Study Course
Objective
The main goal of this course is to give students an understanding of the most important features and dynamics in international politics and the central problems of international security in the 21st century. During this course, we will address debates on issues such as traditional and non-traditional threats, the effectiveness of deterrence, the impact of international organisations on security cooperation, and others. This course will cover major theories of international relations and boost students’ ability to apply theoretical concepts in integrated empirical analysis. This study course provides a context-rich and historically grounded understanding of the key concepts that shape international security environment. Instead of being organised based on cases studies, geographically or chronologically, the course is divided into conceptual clusters that deal with the most significant, enduring, contested, and/or ambiguous categories that form the core of the contemporary international security understanding and are reflected in different levels of international agenda.
Prerequisites
General knowledge of the post-WWII history.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students are expected to be familiar with the major international relations theories and international security concepts and their reflection on the central problematics and conflicts of international security in the 21st century. Students will understand the causes of conflict and the conditions for peace, complexity of traditional and non-traditional threats, dilemmas in international security, as well as expand knowledge on current conflicts and wars and evaluate possibilities and limitations of international response. The course will enable students to develop interpretations and responses to international security issues systematically.
During the course, students’ skills to synthesize theoretical approaches with empirical facts and ability to assess the complexity and causality of international conflicts will be trained. Academic discourse skills and academic text strategies will be trained during academic discussions, and development of coherent argument will be trained during specific practical assignments.
Students will improve the ability to interpret current developments in international security environment, to historicize those categories in a competent and context-rich way and analyse international conflict and stability issues in a broad historical and theoretical framework. In the course papers and final essays, students will demonstrate their original academic work and will be encouraged to come forth with original and argument-based conclusions and ideas for solutions to existing problematics in international security environment.
