BSS170 Human Security

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2008
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. RNDr. Nikola Hynek, M.A., PgDip Res (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.
Division of Security and Strategic Studies – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Timetable
Thu 20. 11. to Fri 12. 12. Thu 12:00–17:40 U43, Thu 27. 11. to Fri 12. 12. Thu 12:00–17:40 U43, Thu 4. 12. to Fri 12. 12. Thu 12:00–17:40 U43
Prerequisites
No required prerequisites (bachelor level)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 17 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course aims at achieving three broad objectives. Firstly, it establishes a knowledge pool enabling an understanding of the main concepts, issues and contours of the paradigm of human security. Secondly, it is designed to encourage enrolled students in developing critical thinking and transferable skills. Finally, since the course is organised and taught entirely in English, it intends to improve students’ abilities connected to academic writing and oral skills in this language. With regard to the logic of the course organisation, it is divided into two main parts. The course starts with a conceptual part and the second part consists of a series of case studies. After completing this course, students should be able to bridge relevant concepts with empirical evidence as far as the analysis of the most pressing humanitarian topics in world politics is concerned.
Syllabus
  • Session 1: Introduction Development as a Precondition for Human Security Discourse Matters I.: Pessimistic Inevitability of Human Insecurity and the Re-primitivisation of Man Discourse Matters II.: Human Security as a Promising Way of Tackling Human Emergencies The Politics of Human Security I.: The Importance of the UN for Human Security The Politics of Human Security II.: The Canadian and Asian Approaches to Human Security Session 2: Humanitarian Intervention and the Norm of State Sovereignty: The Responsibility to Protect? Human Security in Light of Wider Transformations of Diplomacy 10. The Campaigns to Ban Antipersonnel Landmines & to regulate Small Arms and Light Weapons Environmental Degradation and Resource Conflicts as Threats to Human Security Women in Peacebuilding Session 3: Students will present their projects
Literature
  • Vandergrift, Kathy, David Lochhead and Rebecca Steinmann. 2002. Small Arms, Children, and Armed Conflict, Background Research Paper, pp. 7-15
  • Kaplan, Robert D. 1994. The Coming Anarchy, Atlantic Monthly (Summer 1994), pp. 44-76.
  • International Commission of Intervention and State Sovereignty. 2001. The Responsibility to Protect: A Report by the International Commission of Intervention and State Sovereignty (December 2001)
  • Annan, Kofi. 1999. Two Concepts of Sovereignty, The Economist (September 18, 1999), http://www.un.org/News/ossg/sg/stories/kaecon.html
  • Foreign Affairs Canada Freedom from Fear: Canada s Foreign Policy for Human Security, Ottawa, 2004 (an updated 2000 version).
  • United Nations Security Council. 2000. Women, Peace and Security: Annotated Security Council Resolution 1325. New York: United Nations
  • Snyder, Ross. 2001. The Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts. In McRae, Rob and Hubert, Don (eds): Human Security and the New Diplomacy: Protecting People, Promoting Peace, pp. 152-160. Montreal, Kingston, London and Itha
  • Hampson, Fen O. et all. 2002. Human Security and World Disorder. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press (Chapter 1: Introduction: Madness in Multitude, pp. 1-13
  • Hynek, Nikola. 2008. Conditions of Emergence and Their Effects: Political Rationalities, Governmental Programs and Technologies of Power in the Landmine Case, Journal of International Relations and Development 11:2, pp, 93-120
  • Elliot, Lorraine. 2004. The Global Politics of the Environment. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan (Chapter 9: Environmental Security, pp. 201-222
  • United Nations Development Program. 1994. Human Development Report. New York: UN Press (Chapter 2: New Dimensions of Human Security, pp. 22-46
  • Homer-Dixon, Thomas. 1994. Environmental Scarcities and Violent Conflict: Evidence from Cases, International Security 19:1, pp. 5-40
  • Sucharithanarugse, Wishaya. 2000. The Concept of Human Security Extended: Asianizing the Paradigm. In Tow, William T., Ramesh Thakur and In-Taek Hyun (eds): Asia_s Emerging Regional Order: Reconciling Traditional and Human Security, pp. 49-61. Toky
  • Hampson, Fen O. et all. 2002. Human Security and World Disorder. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press (Chapter 4: Promoting Human Rights and the Rule of Law: the International Criminal Court, pp. 62-79
  • McRae, Rob. 2001. Conclusion: International Relations and the New Diplomacy. In McRae, Rob and Hubert, Don (eds): Human Security and the New Diplomacy: Protecting People, Promoting Peace, pp. 250-259. Montreal, Kingston, London and Ithaca: McGill-Queen
  • English, John. 1998. The Ottawa Process: Path Followed, Paths Ahead, Australian Journal of International Affairs 52:1, pp. 121-132
  • Axworthy, Lloyd. 2001. Human Security and Global Governance: Putting People First, Global Governance 7 (2001), pp. 19-23.
  • United Nations. 2004. Secretary General_s report on Women, Peace and Security. New York: United Nations
  • Dorn, Walter A. 1999/2000. Small Arms, Human Security and Development, Development Express 5, International Development Information Centre, Québec, Canada
Assessment methods
ATTENDANCE: Attendance is compulsory. Students are expected to prepare for active participation in the seminars by reading the recommended texts, which will be accessible in the electronic form, in advance, and their individual contributions will be assessed formatively (see below). Students’ active participation will be supported by chosen teaching methods/ activities (e.g. debates, simulations, problem-solving etc.) ASSESSMENT: The following structure of assessment with two weighted elements ensures continuous active participation of students during the term and aims to decrease the usual level of stress resulting from one dominant assignment (typically an examination) at the end of the term. The Structure of Assessment: 1. Project (40 % = 20 %: oral in-class presentation of preliminary results; 20 %: final report on the same topic): Students are expected to select one theme that arises from or is inspired by and related to the course for the preparation of their own project. The choice of topic must be approved by the course leader. The project consists of an oral presentation of your preliminary findings during the seminar on a given topic (7 minutes, for a PowerPoint presentation per person; contact the course leader in advance) and the submission of the term report (14 – 15 000 characters – i.e. approximately 8 pages long, accepted divergence +/-10 %) on the same topic by the end of the course (ii). It should be pointed out that a report is written differently from an essay – students should consult books on this topic in the library or consult the course leader. In respect of information sources for the project, students are encouraged to utilise the university pre-paid electronic sources as well as familiarise themselves with so-called grey literature (working and discussion papers of various research institutes, international organisations and think-tanks). Each presentations and report will have to include additional five sources found by students. The report must follow citation standards and include the list of references (in case of confusion, see the departmental standards and/or the course leader). Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and is strictly prohibited. All submitted reports will be scanned through anti-plagiarism software. 2. Examination (60 %): The final written examination will consist of questions from the required reading and lectures. Three questions will be offered and each student will have to select two according to his/her preferences and answer them (i.e. one will be left unanswered). Questions will be open and the student is expected to give sufficiently detailed, clear, and logically coherent answers, which can contain diagrams and bullet points. The minimal threshold for students to qualify themselves for completing the course is 60 % of the overall mark. Student must complete all assignments in order to be marked (i.e. all elements need to be over 60 %). Enrolled students are expected to have sufficient knowledge of English for the purposes of this course.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2009.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2008, recent)
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