GV517-7-SP-CO:
International Security Studies
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
03 May 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
The field of Security Studies has enjoyed significant attention in both policy and academic circles since the end of World War II. This did not end with the Cold War, but, in fact, Security Studies became even more prominent and relevant afterwards in light of `conventional` wars and `unconventional` engagements like peacekeeping missions, counterinsurgency operations, or anti-terror campaigns.
While old conflicts are reigniting and new ones emerging, the scholarly literature and policymakers debate about `changes` to concepts of security, particularly in the form of new forms of conflicts, new threats and challenges, and new actors. Issues such as terrorism, civil wars, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, or asymmetric warfare have received greater prominence than before.
Generally, the (traditional) realist preoccupation of superpower nuclear conflict is no longer perceived as a realistic option, and the academic and policy discussions have been dominated by a more varied set of considerations since the end of the Cold War: e.g., the nature of security, strategy, the (declining) centrality of the state, and the balance between military and non-military aspects of security.
This module explores these and several other related issues from a broad range of theoretical and empirical perspectives. It is divided into two sections. First, we study some of the general and most important theoretical concepts in the security-studies literature. This establishes a common theoretical background. The second part deals with issues of (traditional) military security in depth, both theoretically and empirically: e.g., the Bargaining Model of War, military effectiveness, intelligence services, defence technology, or arms control.
The module aims to:
1. Provide students with the main theoretical arguments of Security Studies and Strategic Studies.
2. Engage with a wide range of applied empirical material relating to the security agenda, the use of military force, and supporting elements.
3. Present a range of contemporary security issues, which are discussed both from a theoretical point of view and an empirical perspective.
By the end of the module, students should:
1. Be able to critically compare different theoretical approaches in Security Studies.
2. Possess the skills to carefully assess the empirical evidence for these theoretical approaches.
3. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of contemporary issues in Security Studies.
4. how a systematic understanding of the security components in international affairs since 1945.
5. Be able to express well-informed opinions about contemporary security issues.
No additional information available.
This module will be taught over 2 hours per week
-
-
John Baylis, James J. Wirtz and Colin S. Gray (eds) (2019) Strategy in the contemporary world: an introduction to strategic studies. Sixth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
-
Allan Collins (2019b) Contemporary security studies. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
-
Snyder, C.A. (2012)
Contemporary security and strategy. 3rd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4762670.
-
R. (no date) ‘The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Change the World Forever - The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Change the World Forever.pdf.’ Available at:
http://www.afaemme.org/sites/default/files/The%20Coronavirus%20Pandemic%20Will%20Change%20the%20World%20Forever.pdf.
-
-
-
James D. Fearon (1995) ‘Rationalist Explanations for War’,
International Organization, 49(3), pp. 379–414. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818300033324.
-
-
Kristopher W. Ramsay (2017) ‘Information, Uncertainty, and War’,
Annual Review of Political Science, 20(1), pp. 505–527. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-051215-022729.
-
Dan Reiter (2003) ‘Exploring the Bargaining Model of War’,
Perspectives on Politics, 1(1), pp. 27–43. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1537592703000033.
-
Biddle, S. and Long, S. (2004) ‘Democracy and Military Effectiveness: A Deeper Look’,
The Journal of Conflict Resolution, 48(4), pp. 525–546. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022002704266118.
-
Alexander B. Downes (2009) ‘How Smart and Tough Are Democracies? Reassessing Theories of Democratic Victory in War’,
International Security, 33(4). Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1162/isec.2009.33.4.9.
-
Talmadge, C. (2013) ‘The Puzzle of Personalist Performance: Iraqi Battlefield Effectiveness in the Iran-Iraq War’,
Security Studies, 22(2), pp. 180–221. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/09636412.2013.786911.
-
Powell, R. (1990)
Nuclear deterrence theory: the search for credibility. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1017/CBO9780511551598.
-
Baylis, J., Wirtz, J. and Gray, C. (eds) (2019) Strategy in the Contemporary World. 6th ed. Oxford University Press, USA.
-
Lars-Erik Cederman, Nils B. Weidmann and Kristian Skrede Gleditsch (2011) ‘Horizontal Inequalities and Ethnonationalist Civil War: A Global Comparison’,
The American Political Science Review, 105(3), pp. 478–495. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055411000207.
-
Collier, P. (2004) ‘Greed and Grievance in Civil War’,
Oxford Economic Papers, 56(4), pp. 563–595. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpf064.
-
James D. Fearon and David D. Laitin (2003) ‘Ethnicity, Insurgency, and Civil War’,
American Political Science Review, 97(1), pp. 75–90. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055403000534.
-
‘Intrinsic Social Incentives in State and Non-State Armed Groups’ (2023)
American Political Science Review, 117(1), pp. 22–41. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S000305542200020X.
-
-
Collier, P., Hoeffler, A. and Rohner, D. (2008) ‘Beyond greed and grievance: feasibility and civil war’,
Oxford Economic Papers, 61(1), pp. 1–27. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpn029.
-
Mitts, T. (2018) ‘From isolation to radicalization: Anti-Muslim hostility and support for ISIS in the West’,
American Political Science Review, 113(1). Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055418000618.
-
Robert A. Pape (2003) ‘The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism’,
American Political Science Review, 97(3). Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S000305540300073X.
-
Thomas, J. (2014) ‘Rewarding Bad Behavior: How Governments Respond to Terrorism in Civil War’,
American Journal of Political Science, 58(4), pp. 804–818. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12113.
-
Byman, D.L. (2006) ‘Friends like These: Counterinsurgency and the War on Terrorism’,
International Security, 31(2), pp. 79–115. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1162/isec.2006.31.2.79.
-
Beardsley, K.C.
et al. (2006) ‘Mediation Style and Crisis Outcomes’,
The Journal of Conflict Resolution, 50(1), pp. 58–86. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/0022002705282862.
-
Beardsley, K. (2008) ‘Agreement without Peace? International Mediation and Time Inconsistency Problems’,
American Journal of Political Science, 52(4), pp. 723–740. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/25193846.
-
Gartner, S.S. (2006) ‘Overcoming Obstacles to Peace: The Contribution of Mediation to Short-Lived Conflict Settlements’,
International Studies Quarterly, 50(4), pp. 819–840. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4092781.
-
Greig, J.M. (2005) ‘Stepping into the Fray: When Do Mediators Mediate?’,
American Journal of Political Science, 49(2). Available at:
https://doi.org/10.2307/3647675.
-
Haas, N. and Khadka, P.B. (2020) ‘If They Endorse It, I Can’t Trust It: How Outgroup Leader Endorsements Undercut Public Support for Civil War Peace Settlements’,
American Journal of Political Science, 64(4), pp. 982–1000. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12519.
-
Walter, B.F. (1997) ‘The Critical Barrier to Civil War Settlement’,
International Organization, 51(3), pp. 335–364. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1162/002081897550384.
-
Hultman, L., Kathman, J. and Shannon, M. (2013) ‘United Nations Peacekeeping and Civilian Protection in Civil War’,
American Journal of Political Science, (4), pp. 875–891. Available at:
https://search-ebscohost-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&AN=90607817&site=ehost-live&authtype=sso&custid=s9814295.
-
Walter, B.F., Howard, L.M. and Fortna, V.P. (2020) ‘The Extraordinary Relationship between Peacekeeping and Peace’,
British Journal of Political Science, pp. 1–18. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S000712342000023X.
-
Bove, V. and Ruggeri, A. (2016) ‘Kinds of Blue: Diversity in UN Peacekeeping Missions and Civilian Protection’,
British Journal of Political Science, 46(03), pp. 681–700. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123415000034.
-
Lisa Hultman, Jacob Kathman and Megan Shannon (2014) ‘Beyond Keeping Peace: United Nations Effectiveness in the Midst of Fighting’,
American Political Science Review, 108(4), pp. 737–753. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055414000446.
-
Hultman, L., Kathman, J.D. and Shannon, M. (2016) ‘United Nations peacekeeping dynamics and the duration of post-civil conflict peace’,
Conflict Management and Peace Science, 33(3), pp. 231–249. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/0738894215570425.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Coursework |
Essay 1 |
|
50% |
Coursework |
Essay 2 |
|
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Prabin Khadka, email: prabin.khadka@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Prabin Khadka
Dr Prabin Khadka prabin.khadka@essex.ac.uk or Module Administrator: Jamie Seakens, govpgquery@essex.ac.uk
No
Yes
No
Dr Damien Bol
King's College London
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Government
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.