Module Information

Module Identifier
IPM8130
Module Title
SECURITY AND CITIZENSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY EUROPE: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminars / Tutorials 10 x 2 Hour seminars
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Essay I - 4,500 words  50%
Semester Assessment Essay II - 4,500 words  50%
Supplementary Assessment Resit opportunities for this module will be available in the Supplementary examination period each year. Normally, Masters students are required to resit those elements of the module that they have not already passed. The Department always writes to all students well before the supplementary examination period to confirm the requirements.  

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Describe and evaluate the different interpretations of a European citizenship
2. Describe and assess differing conceptualisations of Europe's role in security
3. Analyse the extent to which the concept of citizenship has been significantly altered by the European integration project
4. Identify and investigate the extent to which, and how, the EU is seeking to promote its values and principles on a global basis
5. Discuss the contending approaches to migration and immigration in the European political arena
6. Demonstrate through written work and seminar discussion an ability to analyse and synthesise the key contemporary security issues in Europe

Aims

This module stems directly from the Department's successful application for Marie-Curie EST fellowships under the EU's FP6 Programme. The module consolidates and builds upon existing departmental strengths in security studies, European Politics and governance. It provides students with the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge on contemporary European security issues, European approaches to citizenship and how they interact.

Brief description

This module provides a comprehensive understanding and analysis of the changing nature of citizenship and security within Europe. Utilising theories and concepts specifically focused on the European political context, this module addresses and critiques empirical and policy based questions relating to the future of European security and Europe's role in the world.

Content

Part One: The EU as an Enlarging Security Community
- Boundaries of Europe: Enlargement and the 'other'
- Case study - EU and Turkey
- Europe as a Security Community

Part Two: The EU as a good international Citizen
- Europe as a 'civilian power'
- CFSP: Regional or Global actor?
- ESDP: The Militarisation of the EU?

Part Three: Citizenship versus Security
- Fortress Europe? Asylum and immigration in Europe
- Europe and the 'War on Terror'

Part Four: European Citizenship
- Towards European identity/identities?
- Islam in Europe / Muslims in the EU

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Communication Students will learn how to present their ideas both verbally and in writing and how to assert themselves to advantage. They will understand the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will know how to use the many sources of information available and how to use the most appropriate form of communication to the best advantage. They will learn to be clear and direct about aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic, focus and objectives of their argument or discussion. Seminars will be run in groups where oral discussion and presentations will form the main medium of teaching and the emphasis throughout the module will be on student participation and communication. Fellow students will be encouraged to question the paper-giver to critique their approach or to suggest areas for the development of the chosen topic; in turn each will discuss the contributions and ideas of the other.
Improving own Learning and Performance The module aims to promote self-management but within a context of assistance from both the convenor and the fellow students alike. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and to exercise their own initiative, including searching for sources, compiling reading lists, and deciding (under guidance) the direction of their essay and presentation topics. The need to conduct a seminar presentation and to meet an essay deadline will focus students' attention on the need to manage their time and opportunity resources well.
Information Technology Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format. Also, students will be encouraged to search for sources of information on the web, as well as seeking sources through electronic information sources (such as BIDS and OCLC).
Personal Development and Career planning The discussions in particular will help to develop students' verbal and presentation skills. Learning about the process of planning an essay and a presentation, framing the parameters of the projects, honing and developing the projects and seeing through to completion will contribute towards their portfolio of transferable skills
Problem solving Independent project work and problem solving will be one of the central goals of the module; the submission of two essays will require that the student develops independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; organize data and estimate an answer to the problem; consider extreme cases; reason logically; construct theoretical models; consider similar cases; look for patterns; divide issues into smaller problems.
Research skills The submission of two essays will reflect the independent research skills of the student. The need to locate appropriate research resources and write up the results will also facilitate research skills.
Subject Specific Skills Students have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of subject specific skills that help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas on the module. These subject specific skills include: Collect and understand a wide range of data relating to the module Ability to evaluate competing perspectives Demonstrate subject specific research techniques Apply a range of methodologies to complex political problems
Team work Seminars will consist in part of small-group discussion where students will be obliged to discuss as a group the core issues related to seminar topics. Such class room debates and discussions are a vital component of the module

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7