International Security

Bachelor 2020/2021

Type: Compulsory course (HSE University and University of London Parallel Degree Programme in International Relations)

Area of studies: International Relations

Delivered by: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

Where: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

When: 4 year, 3, 4 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Maxim Bratersky, Dmitry Novikov, Dmitry Suslov

Language: English

ECTS credits: 7

Contact hours: 108

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Abstract

Security in international relations is a subject which provides insights and understanding of order and stability both within and between states. Many students when they approach this course think that security is only concerned with states and their armed forces. A common misunderstanding is to equate security with defense. But the security agenda is much broader than this and now includes questions of force and military preparedness problems and policies to do with human and minority rights, migration, poverty, the environment and other societal issues. Following on from this wider agenda, security in international relations is increasingly concerned not only with the safety of states but also of the peoples within them. What students take away from this course is an understanding of security as a core value of human life and an awareness that security policies will vary depending upon how one answers the key questions: security in (or of) what; security from what; and security by what means.

Learning Objectives

introduce students to the central concepts in security studies;
develop comparative skills of analysis of differing security policies in practice;
promote critical engagement with the security policy literature;
enable students to display this engagement by developing your ability to present, substantiate and defend complex argument.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of the issues involved in security policy decision making;
Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the contexts, pressures and constraints with which security policymakers have to deal;
Be able to demonstrate an ability to engage in comparative analysis of security policy without losing a sense of historical context

Course Contents

The idea of security
The state as a security arrangement
National security: current issues and contemporary application
International society as a security arrangement
International security: current issues and contemporary application
Human security as an alternative to national and international security
Human security: current issues and contemporary application
Security paradigms in conflict: the problem of intervention

Assessment Elements

Seminar activity
MOCK exam
Final Exam
Your exam will be held online. You should submit a paper via Google-Forms in 3-hours period. All further details will be send to you directly by the professor.
Seminar activity
MOCK exam
Final Exam
Your exam will be held online. You should submit a paper via Google-Forms in 3-hours period. All further details will be send to you directly by the professor.

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (4 module)
0.25 * Final Exam + 0.25 * MOCK exam + 0.5 * Seminar activity

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Bain, W. (2006). The Empire of Security and the Safety of the People. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=171259
Buzan, B. (2007). People, States and Fear : An Agenda for International Security Studies in the Post-Cold War Era (Vol. Second edition). Colchester, England: ECPR Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1468309
Hough, P. (2018). Understanding Global Security (Vol. 4th edition). New York, NY: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1743300
People, states & fear: An agenda for international security studies in the post-Cold War era. Introducción y capítulo 10. (2017). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.F56ABBFB

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Bain, W. (2003). Between Anarchy and Society : Trusteeship and the Obligations of Power. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=257796
Bull, H. (2012). The Anarchical Society : A Study of Order in World Politics (Vol. 4th ed). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1523322
Heupel, M. V. (DE-588)13042790X, (DE-576)171965523, aut. (2018). International organisations and human rights : what direct authority needs for its legitimation / Monika Heupel (Junior Professor for International and European Politics, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg), Gisela Hirschmann (Assistant Professor of International Relations, Leiden University), and Michael Zürn (Professor, Director of the Research Unit Global Governance, WZB Berlin Social Science Center). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.506094812
Jackson, R. H. (2003). The Global Covenant : Human Conduct in a World of States. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=267249
Robert H. JACKSON. (2009). “Los estados fallidos y la tutela internacional” en The Global Covenant. Human conduct in a World of States, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2000. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.33344C7E

Course Syllabus