CDSn4005 Security Systems and Actors

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Vendula Divišová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lucie Konečná, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Věra Stojarová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Věra Stojarová, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course is intended to introduce students to international security policy. It deals with theories and with the structure of the international security system. Students will be familiarised with various actors, historical issues, geopolitics, and international security order.
Learning outcomes
Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to: - explain key theories and concepts of international security - apply international security theories to real-world examples - critically review current international security issues
Syllabus
  • Lecture 1: Introduction to the course
  • Lecture 2: What Kind of Security?
  • Lecture 3: Competing Visions of International Politics – Realism
  • Lecture 4: Competing Visions of International Politics – Idealism/Liberalism
  • Lecture 5: National, International and Human Security
  • Lecture 6: International Organizations
  • Lecture 7. International Security Regimes
  • Lecture 8. Weakening and Failing of the State
  • Lecture 9: Violent Non-State Actors
  • Lecture 10: Contemporary Armed Conflicts
  • Lecture 11: Students' Presentations
  • Lecture 12: Students' Presentations
  • Lecture 13: Students' Presentations
Literature
    required literature
  • Collins, Alan (ed.), Contemporary Security Studies (Oxford 2007).
  • Williams, Paul D., ed. Security studies: an introduction. Routledge, (2018), pp. 17-47, 221-249, 334-368.
  • Rotberg, Robert. Failed States, Collapsed States, Weak States: Causes and Indicators (2006).
  • Schneckener, Ulrich. Spoilers or Governance Actors? Engaging Armed Non-State Groups in Areas of Limited Statehood. p. 3-26. (2009).
  • Hasenclever, Andreas, Mayer, Peter and Volker Rittberger. Theories of International Regimes (1997), pp. 8-22 (Chapter 2: “Conceptual issues: defining international regimes”).
  • Williams, Phil. Violent Non-State Actors and National and International Security. (2008): https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/93880/vnsas.pdf
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussion.
Assessment methods
Students will receive a final grade for the semester based on the following components: (1) Activity and discussion during lectures/seminars (10 points) (2) Presentation (10 points) (3) Seminar work (20 points) (4) Final exam (20 points) Grading:
A 60 – 56 points
B 55 – 51 points
C 50 – 46 points
D 45 – 41 points
E 40 – 36 points
F 35 and below
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/CDSn4005