Module Identifier
IPM1120
Module Title
CRITICAL SECURITY STUDIES: CONTEMPORARY THEORIES (RT)
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Mr Douglas W Stokes
Semester
Intended for use in future years
Mutually Exclusive
IPM1130
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminars / Tutorials 22 Hours. (1 x 2 hour seminar per week)
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Essay: 1 x 3,000 words  60%
Semester Assessment Review article: 1 x 2,000 words  40%
Supplementary Exam Students may, subject to Faculty approval, have the opportunity to resit this module, normally during the supplementary examination period. For further clarification please contact the Teaching Programme Administrator in the Department of International Politics. 

Learning Outcomes

On completing the module students will be able to:

- describe, analyse and assess the assumptions, theories and practices that have defined post World War II `traditional security studies?;

- identify, analyse and evaluate the assumptions and theories that underpin alternative conceptualisations of security, namely various forms of constructivism, post-structuralism and critical theory; and,

- critically analyse and discuss the implications of these alternative standpoints as refracted through recent debates in the area of security studies, concerning, inter alia, the most appropriate 'referent object' for security, 'broadening' security beyond military issues, 'securitization', and the purpose and audience of security studies.

Brief description

This module explores the 'critical' turn in thinking about security through an examination of the main alternative conceptualisations of security that have emerged in recent years. It is a core module for students on the 'Research Training' pathway of the Security Studies programme.

Aims

This module links directly to the subject specific research training provided in IPM2120 by exploring issues of philosophy and method in the context of security studies. Students will develop the ability to analyse, evaluate and discuss:

- the assumptions, theories and practices that have defined post World War II `traditional security studies?;

- the assumptions and theories that underpin alternative conceptualisations of security, namely various forms of constructivism, post-structuralism and critical theory; and,

- the implications of these alternative standpoints as refracted through recent debates in the area of security studies concerning, inter alia, the most appropriate 'referent object' for security, 'broadening' security beyond military issues, 'securitzation', and the purpose and audience of security studies.

Content

This module provides a critical overview of the study of security in world politics from the perspective(s) of those employing alternative conceptualisations of security to the military-focused, state-centrism at the heart of traditional security/strategic studies. Following in-depth discussion of traditional understandings of security the module discusses various other contemporary attempts to conceptualise the nature of security. The differences and common ground between these approaches is highlighted through a consideration of key debates in contemporary security studies.

Transferable skills

Conceptual thinking is at the heart of this module. Students on the module will learn to think about the relationship between concepts in the field of security studies and underlying theoretical and philosophical positions, on the one hand, and the implications of various conceptualisations to practice, on the other.

Throughout the module, students should practice and enhance their reading, comprehension and thinking skills and their self-management skills. In seminars students will enhance their analytical skills and will practice listening, explaining and debating skills, as well as team-working skills. The review essay will allow students to further develop analytical and communication skills. Essay writing will encourage students on both the Specialist and Research Training Pathways to practice their independent research, writing and IT skills.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7