module specification

Violence, civil wars, failed states, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, terrorism, climate change, mass migration, military invasions, cyber warfare, poverty and many other such words are rarely absent from the global media landscape. These phrases also seem to be a reflection of the world we inhabit today. They hint at the view that the use of force continues to be a key component of global politics but they are also an indication that non-military threats are increasingly challenging states and individuals. This increasingly broad range of threats has also challenged traditional theories and concepts of international security, and highlighted how this and the multifaceted structures of the international system are interlinked.

The module explores the conceptual and empirical meaning of security through a wide range of issues and topics ranging from the globalisation of crime, the impact of small arms, the role of intelligence to the impact of new technologies such as drones, the role that international collective defence organisations such as NATO play in global security, the challenges raised by mass migration, climate change and postcolonial ideas relevant to security.

The purpose is to investigate what these (and other) issues mean for security. It is clear that these problems must be solved by a means of a different set of policies, but the one thing they all have in common is that they are now all a function of security and therefore cannot be ignored.

The module will also encourage students to develop a range of important Generic Skills.

• 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 (writing an Essay and a Regional Report using commonly accepted standards of definition, analysis, grammatical prose, and documentation).

• The ability to work under pressure within specified time constraints, e.g., during seminar discussions and deadlines for all assessments.

• Research skills, including the ability to synthesise and analyse arguments, to read and understand texts on international relations, and to exercise critical judgement.

• The capacity to work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management, as well as co-operating with other students to achieve common goals such as is achieved through group work during seminars.

None.

Available to Study Abroad students.

The syllabus will include:

1. Security and globalisation
2. Terrorism
3. Globalisation, democracy and human rights
4. Religion and security
5. Transnational Crime
6. Small arms and light weapons
7. The role of intelligence
8. The implications of new technologies and the Cyber Threat
9. NATO as an increasingly global actor
10. Food and Health Security
11. Migration and Security

All learning outcomes will be covered by the syllabus.

Teaching consists of a weekly two hour lecture followed by a one hour tutorial. Each session will involve a combination of taught lectures, videos, the use of primary and secondary documents and websites. During the module seminars will combine a variety of methods including discussion based on pre-set questions and role plays. Blended Learning will be a key component of the module. Lecture notes and primary and secondary documents for use in class will be posted on line, as will web links for academic and governmental websites, as well as video links. Every lecture will also be recorded and made available for students via the WebLearn site.

Materials for use in class will be posted at least one week in advance on line to allow students to reflect on the subject and prepare. Questions for class discussion will be available from the beginning of the module via the Module Booklet available on WebLearn, which will include a list of resources students can use to answer the questions and study the subject in greater depth.

Reflective learning will be encouraged at all stages of the module, with the emphasis being on developing independent learning skills. At Level 6 it is expected that students will be able to carry out independent research, deep learning, and analysis. This is reflected in the encouragement students are given to prepare for seminars prior to each session. This helps build on skills developed at Levels 4 and 5, encouraging students to expand their abilities in preparation for the workplace or postgraduate study.

At the end of this module you should be able to:

1. appreciate key issues and dynamics regarding conflict and the use of force in the international system.

2. Critically identify and evaluate the capabilities and limitations of military power as an instrument of policy.

3. Critically assess the sources of conflict and co-operation in the international system.

4. Analyse how security is experienced differently within and between groups.

Inclusivity is central to the assessment strategy. Students will be given weekly tasks which are designed to enable students to work together as practitioners, seeking solutions to real-world problems. This will contribute to a portfolio of written work which will form the final submitted work.

Initial submissions will count as formative pieces of work to enable students to build skills for the later summative work. The summative work will include written discussions of case studies which will allow students to reflect on contemporary security issues, as well as the broader concerns of the international community.

The continuous assessment is designed to enable students to use a range of learning methods and employability skills, including independent research; reading a wide range of primary and secondary sources; communicating ideas verbally in class; and working as a team. Throughout students will be expected to reflect on what they have learnt and make use of constructive feedback.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/B99F8C60-5E22-A221-9C59-36B1C5075318.html?lang=en&login=1

Websites

• E-International Relations - http://www.e-ir.info - One of the best open access websites for students and scholars of International Relations and Security Studies.
• The International Institute for Strategic Studies - https://www.iiss.org/
• The Centre for Strategic and International Studies - https://www.csis.org/
• The European Union Institute for Security Studies - https://www.iss.europa.eu/
• Royal United Services Institute - http://https://rusi.org/
• The Centre for Science and Security Studies at Kings College London - https://www.kcl.ac.uk/csss
• Center for Security Studies - ETH Zurich - https://css.ethz.ch/en/services.html
• Institute for Security Studies / Africa - https://issafrica.org/
• Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO) - https://cup.columbia.edu/reference/ciao
• The RAND Corporation - https://www.rand.org/
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute - https://www.sipri.org/
• Strategic Studies Institute - https://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/
• United States Institute of Peace - https://www.usip.org/
• Asia / Pacific Centre for Security Studies - http://apcss.org/