BSSn4411 Modern Technologies and Security

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jakub Drmola, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Marek Dvořáček (assistant)
Mgr. Luboš Přikryl (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jakub Drmola, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Security and Strategic Studies – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 10:00–11:40 P22
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
The course deals with the positive and negative impact of the development of modern technology on security.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, the student will be able to critically evaluate various aspects of technology and its possible and probable impact on the security of states and society.
Key topics
  • The militarization and commercialization of space.
  • Cybersecurity, surveillance and big data.
  • Autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence.
  • Climate change and energy production.
  • Genetics and biotechnology.
  • New weapons systems.
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • SCHROGL, Kai-Uwe, Peter L. HAYS, Jana ROBINSON, Denis MOURA a Christina GIANNOPAPA. Handbook of Space Security: Policies, Applications and Programs. New York: Springer. ISBN ISBN 978-1-4614-2028-6
  • GLEICK, Peter H. (2014): "Water, Drought, Climate Change, and Conflict in Syria." Weather, Climate, and Society
  • GARDNER, Dan (2008): Risk - The Science and Politics of Fear
  • SCHARRE, Paul. Army of none : autonomous weapons and the future of war. First edition. London: W.W. Norton & Company, 2018, ix, 436. ISBN 9780393356588. info
  • KELLY, Kevin. The inevitable : understanding the 12 technological forces that will shape our future. New York: Viking, 2016, vi, 328. ISBN 9780525428084. info
  • SINGER, P. W. and Allan FRIEDMAN. Cybersecurity and cyberwar : what everyone needs to know. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014, viii, 306. ISBN 9780199918119. info
  • HABER, William. Security, Freedom, and Modern Technology. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 1947. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Classroom instruction consists of technical lectures followed by team-based student presentations defending opposing viewpoints related to the topic under discussion.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
The final assessment consists of two student presentations of assigned papers, a seminar paper and a final exam. A: 46-50 B: 42-45 C: 38-41 D: 34-37 E: 30-33 F: 29 or less
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2025/BSSn4411