Introduction to Security Politics - Einzelansicht

Course Description

In recent years, terrorism, mass violence, and inter-state war have (re)emerged as real or perceived threats to international security. Through which means are we securing ourselves against such contemporary threats? And are these means truly making us more secure?

This course aims to provide students with the building blocks to study and investigate security politics around the globe. It builds on International Relations Theory to investigate different issue areas of security politics - from classical fields such as interstate war and terrorism to more recently securitised fields such as migration. We examine contemporary security challenges and the role of states, non-state actors, and international institutions in providing or threatening international security all the way from the war in Ukraine, to US-China tensions and the Iran Nuclear Deal.

This advanced seminar looks at the theoretical and empirical explanations that have been offered by academic scholarship, which will help us understand these patterns. Students will be introduced to the core concepts and dominant approaches of the study of international security politics and have a chance to apply them across a range of current cases. The course offers space for exchange and collaboration among students: through discussions, presentations and other, more creative forms of engagement.

Intended Learning Outcomes

This course introduces students to the study of security politics and presents a variety of methodological and thematic angles on what security is and how to conceptualise it. At the end of the course, students will be able (1) to understand the main themes and concepts of international security politics; (2) to study security challenges from a variety of perspectives and questions; (3) to critically assess existing empirical, theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of security politics; and (4) to design independent research on issues related to security politics.

Moodle

The course uses the learning platform Moodle for didactic purposes and for internal communication. You can access Moodle with your university email account and the corresponding password which I will send around the week before the seminar starts.

Class Format

This course follows a weekly seminar format. I will briefly present and initiate the day's topic, which is followed by student presentations, a group debate, and group work. The course ultimately builds on student participation, so students are expected to complete the required readings and to actively participate in discussions. All students are required to prepare a very short written summary statement for each of the mandatory readings.

Students need no prior knowledge of the study of security politics but should have been introduced to core theories of political science/international relations as well as social scientific methodology. In-class discussions will be conducted primarily in English although German contributions are equally welcome. Summary statements and the final essay may be submitted in either English or German.

Participation Requirements: Summary Statements

In order to pass the participation requirements of this course, students have to submit a summary statement for each required reading specified in the syllabus. These should be structured in the following way: 1) 3-5 keywords; 2) the author’s main argument in your own words (50-100 words); 3) one or two questions that the reading raises for you. Students should be prepared to explain their questions during class and discuss them with their peers.

The summary statements should be uploaded via Moodle, where a dedicated section has been created for that purpose. The summary statements for all readings of a given day should be uploaded at the latest until midnight before the respective course day. Two exemptions from handing in summary statements are allowed. No summary statement is needed for the reading of the first class on October 14.

Students are encouraged to submit visual formats summarising one reading per double class instead of a summary statement for this specific reading. This may be memes, TikTok videos or other ideas students have. Look here for examples. There are various platforms to create memes, for example, here. Creative submissions are optional (but fun!).

Grading Requirements

This course follows a portfolio system in its grading requirements. This means that students' grades are not dependent on just one final delivery but consist of a variety of factors listed here.

Group Memo during Class

Throughout the course, students will be asked to co-author a memo for one required reading during the course of the seminar in groups of 2 or 3 (depending on class size). Memo groups and readings will be assigned in the first session. Generally, memos should be around 1000 words long (10\% margin plus/minus). They should summarise the reading, present the reading's puzzle, research question and findings, and offer a set of thoughtful and diverse questions to drive discussion. Students should be prepared to answer questions about the reading.

The group memo replaces the summary statement for the authoring students for this class. It should be submitted via Moodle.

Group memos will not be marked on their content but failure to submit leads to a drop in your grade. They serve to spark students' thought processes and to structure the classes.

Essay (Hausarbeit)

Students have to write an essay (Hausarbeit). The paper should address a major question in the study of security politics. Students are expected to propose potential topics themselves, but you can ask me for leads or advice at any time.

The essay should follow the structure of a scientific article and include a literature review, theoretical argument, and empirical evaluation of the theory. Hence, the main part of the essay should deal with analysing or answering the research question and not with a detailed description of the subject matter or the general historical background. The question addressed in the thesis must be formulated precisely in the introduction. The connection to the topic of the seminar needs to be clear throughout. The essay should demonstrate that you are able to work independently on a topic using academic working techniques and methods; this includes independent literature research. Make sure to include articles from scientific journals in addition to monographs and internet sources. 

The length of the essay should be 4000 words. A 10\% margin plus/minus applies.