Course description

The course aims to provide students with a cursory introduction to one of the major subfields of international relations – international security studies. Addressing the main challenges to international security, the course will focus on analyzing conventional and “novel” threats, as well as adopted policy responses. The breadth of the course will be supported by extensive required readings. The course will be structured into three segments. In the first segment, the course will cover primary theories necessary for further progress and discuss armed conflict, associated threats, and conflict resolution. The second segment focuses on defence-related security issues, while the third segment will address particular threats to international security and their handling by international actors.

The course will enable students to:

-                     understand the basic concepts and major debates of security in the international arena

-                     comprehend the complex interdependence patterns of security issues in the 21st century

-                     grasp the international security context of singular events

-                     competently analyze the national and international responses to dominant security challenges

 

Course requirements

            Students are required to read the assigned literature and refer to the recommended literature for more in-depth elaboration of discussed topics.

            Lectures do not require attendance, however, material covered by the lecturer is part of the final exam and mostly does not significantly overlap with the assigned literature.

            Students are required to write 2 mid-term tests and submit an essay on a topic of their choice – previously consulted with the corresponding teaching assistant.

The course is concluded by a final exam.

Successful completion of the course requires the successful completion of every individual assignment.

 

Individual Requirements

Readings

Students are expected to read the required literature for each lesson. Lectures and literature do not fully overlap.

 

Midterms

Two midterms will be administrated online via ROPOT on 27.10.2023 @14:00 and  24.11.2023 @14:00. The tests are composed of multiple-choice questions and should be answered within 15 minutes. They are conducted ONLINE. 

Midterms cover material from previous lectures and literature. The second midterm tests topics covered after the first midterm.

Each midterm test affords a maximum of 15 points and is not repeatable.

 

Essay

A 5000-word (14 pages) essay is to be submitted to the IS by 15.1.2024. The essay is evaluated based on the rubric contained below. It is not a prerequisite for attendance at the final exam.

Essay topics will be chosen by students in a procedure as follows. Students contact the TA - Mgr. Denis Jansta via email jansta@mail.muni.cz. Topics must correspond to lectures delivered in the course. 

The TA must approve the topic after adjustments, and he will enter the topic into the IS. The topic is considered approved once it appears in the IS topics list 

 

The deadline to enter topics is   17.11.2023 

However, each lecturer has limited spots. If you wish to cover a specific topic, you should not hold off until the very last week. Do give yourself time, as the reason for the late deadline is to let you explore the topics. 

Late submission of essay topics will be penalized by subtraction of points. 

Final exam

A final exam from all lectures and all required literature will be held at the end of the semester. Unless stated otherwise, the exam will consist of 5 open questions.

 

Grading

Requirements are awarded the following points: Midterm I. (15points); Midterm II. (15points); Essay (30points); Exam (40points).

100-92 points = A ; 91-84 points = B ; 83-76 points = C ; 75-68 points = D ; 67-60 points = E ; <60 points = F = failed.

+2 points are adjusted at the final evaluation to reflect the curve