Teaching Responsibility

LJMU Schools involved in Delivery:

Justice Studies

Learning Methods

Online

Module Offerings

7151PS-APR-MTP
7151PS-JAN-MTP
7151PS-SEP-MTP
7151PS-SEP_NS-MTP

Aims

The modules key aims are as follows: Appreciate what is at stake in security, both as a theoretical concept and as an ontological category. Gain a detailed understanding of how the concept of security has been rearticulated and challenged in our contemporary context through an engagement with some of the most pressing issues of our day. Be able to question the ethical dimensions of the Westphalian order based on notions of sovereignty and narrow State interests and determine whether theories highlighting human emancipation need to be strengthened. Be able to demonstrate a good grasp of public policy, especially the processes and structures of decision-making in the area of international security. Be able to critically examine the contemporary themes in international security, such as the ramifications of the Cold War, terrorism, the proliferation of dangerous weapons and globalisation.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Critically analyse the historical development of the discourses in security.
2.
Critically assess the theoretical, historical and scientific explanations for the causes of war.
3.
Critically identify and evaluate the capabilities and limitations of military power as an instrument of policy.
4.
Critically assess the sources of conflict and co-operation in the international system.
5.
Critically identify the place of security studies as a sub-discipline of international relations.

Module Content

Outline Syllabus:PART 1: THE CONCEPTUAL BASIS OF SECURITY STUDIES • Lecture 1: Traditional Definitions of Security. The State as the referent object. • Lecture 2: Shifting the focus away from the State as referent object – deepening the concept and considering the individual. PART 2: TRADITIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS • Lecture 3: The Causes of War (1). • Lecture 4: The Causes of War (2) • Lecture 5: The Theory of Deterrence and Nuclear Proliferation in the post-Cold War Era. • Lecture 6: Collective Security, Peacekeeping, Peace Enforcement, and Humanitarian Intervention. Historical Evolution and Development. The promise or otherwise of Multilateralism.
Additional Information:Defining security remains a difficult academic task and it is this ambiguous nature of the concept which forms the basis for this core unit. Security Studies is one of the most important sub-disciplines within the overarching field of International Relations and stands alongside other sub-disciplines such as International Political Economy and Foreign Policy Analysis. Its close association to International Relations and its theories ensures a rich and vast array of subject matter. At the same time, however, it remains distinct in terms of its central objectives, theories and approaches despite being able to draw on International Relations for support. Security Studies begins by addressing a number of fundamental issues, the most important of which is perhaps defining what we actually mean by the concept. This pursuit is dominated by debates between a variety of discourses: namely, those who seek to retain the discipline's focus purely on military conflict and those who argue that in a globalised world Security Studies needs to be expanded to a consideration of economic, environmental as well as social issues. This Module will seek to address these debates in the context of both national as well as international security issues. At the same time this Module will show that the debates between the traditionalists and the advocates of "new thinking" are having a profound impact on the discipline as both military and non-military issues begin to compete for the attention of academics and policy elites.

Assessments

Essay
Essay