Security and Geopolitics

Objectives

(Theoretical and conceptual)

 

LO1 – Provide the students a broad introduction to geopolitics and contemporary security studies, giving them the major concepts, theories in the area of international security, through an exploration of a series of empirical puzzles.

 

LO2 – Ability to critically evaluate the usefulness/applicability of competing theories and concepts within Security Studies and Geopolitics. Understanding how and why the concepts and study of security has broadened.

 

LO3 – Apply geopolitical analysis and strategic foresight skills to analyze conflicts, relevant security issues and their potential evolutions on different geographic scales. The focus will be both theoretical and analytical.

 

LO4 – Ability to analyze the threats and opportunities that shape security at regional and global level. Capacity to critically assess the main factors and processes impacting the capacity of contemporary security institutions to deal with contemporary security challenges.

 

(Personal development)

LO5 – Define abstract concepts and apply them with consistency and rigour, giving meaning to the complexity of issues involving geopolitics and international security. Justify own positions with arguments based on factual issues.

 

LO6 – Familiarize the students with the resources available for further research. Provide them the ability to communicate effectively in speech (the ability to work under pressure in seminars, where students must demonstrate the ability to respond to questions orally) and writing (for example, writing an essay or book review using commonly accepted standards of definition, analysis, grammatical prose, and documentation).

 

LO7 – Provide them the capacity to work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organization, and time-management, as well as co-operating with other students to achieve common goals.

General characterization

Code

45005

Credits

6

Responsible teacher

Felipe Pathé Duarte

Hours

Weekly - 3

Total - 36

Teaching language

English

Prerequisites

Not Applicable

Bibliography

(further reading will be advised / distributed throughout the sessions)

 

Topic1 – Geopolitical Analysis, Strategic Foresight, and Security 

Conway, M. (2015). Introduction/ About Foresight/ About Foresigt and Strategy In Foresight, An Introduction, A Thinking Future Reference guide (1-14). Australia, Melbourne: Thinking Future. 

G. John Ikenberry (2014) ‘The Illusion of Geopolitics: The Enduring Power of the Liberal Order’ Foreign Affairs 93, 4.

Kaplan, Robert D. (2013). The Revenge of Geography: What the Map Tells Us About Coming Conflicts and the Battle Against Fate. London: Random House Trade.

Walter Russell Mead (2014) ‘The Return of Geopolitics? The Revenge of the Revisionist Powers Foreign Affairs 93, 4 

 

Topic2 – Major Contemporary Security Challenges 

Gueldry, Michetl et al. (2019); Understanding New Security Threats; London: Routledge.

Hough, Peter (2018) International Security Studies: Theory and Practice. London: Routledge.

Kaldor, Mary (2001); New and Old Wars – Organized Violence in a Global Era; Stanford: Stanfor University Press. 

Miller, T. David (2015); Security 2045: Assessing the Future Security Environment and Implications for Defense Policymakers; Washingon DC: CSIS.

 

Topic3 – Contemporary Security Institutions 

Bourantonis Dimitris et al (2008), Multilateralism and security institutions in an era of globalization,  London:  Routledge.

Fagersten, Bjorn (2016); For Your Eyes Only: Intelligence and European security; EU Institute for Security Studies.

Mogherini, Federica (2016), “Global Strategy for the European Union Foreign and Security”.

Teaching method

Modular training on a seminar basis on topics related to Security and Geopolitics. The topics should be debated and examined in some depth, and the students should participate actively in the discussions that will take place during the sessions. 

The talks should be based on the suggested readings for each topic and events analysed by media sources.

The teaching-learning process is based on theoretical-practical classes, where debate and case studies analysis of case studies will have relevance.

Evaluation method

a) Ongoing assessment

1 - An individually written course paper in which the student chooses an issue related to one of the specific themes of the course and analyses it using one or more theoretical perspectives (about 3500/4000 words, - excluding footnotes and bibliography). It must have a cover, include title and author identification on the first page, uniform footnotes and final bibliography).

2 - written assignment submitted in connection with the seminars and oral presentation

(Final grade: 60% written course paper + 30% written assignment + overall performance in class as well as participation 10%)

 

or

 

b) Written exam

Subject matter

Topic1 – Geopolitical Analysis, Strategic Foresight, and Security 

Introduction to Geopolitics and to International Security

Frameworks to read conflicts and security threats

Applied geopolitics: Analysis, Foresight and Strategic Choices

 

Topic2 – Major Contemporary Security Challenges 

Violent Extremism, Radicalization and Terrorism

Kinetic and non-kinetic Hybrid Threats

Concepts of Environmental Security: Anthropocene and climate disruption

Energy: Supply Chain, Economics and Security

Hegemonic Powers, Failed States, Regional/Global tensions, Borders and Conflicts 

 

Topic3 – Contemporary Security Institutions 

International Security Organizations 

Intelligence Community 

Institutions Under Threat – Democracy and Liberal Order