Course Unit / Maritime Peace and Security
Political Science — International Relations Compulsory

Maritime Peace and Security

Political Science — International Relations 6.0 ECTS 2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado
Year
1
Academic year
2026-2027
Code
02058403
Subject Area
Political Science — International Relations
Language of Instruction
English
Other Languages of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado

Recommended Prerequisites

Knowledge of academic writing. Fluency in English and Portuguese.

Teaching Methods

The seminar combines discussion of the theoretical and conceptual dimensions of the bibliography with discussion of practical case studies and the students' own presentations.

This interaction is complemented by the tutorial guidance available to students, enabling them to clarify doubts, receive guidance on preparing assignments and discuss issues raised during the course of the semester.

Learning Outcomes

This seminar aims to provide students with the theoretical, conceptual and empirical knowledge to analyse the peace and security dynamics that permeate the seas today. Thus, students are expected to develop analytical skills that allow them to identify, problematise and criticise, if possible, the main events, actors, national, regional and global governance policies, as well as operations and practices that affect maritime peace and security.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

I. Conceptual and theoretical approaches: the concepts of maritime security and maritime power; maritime peace and security actors; realist, liberal, securitisation and gender approaches.

II. Threats and sources of insecurity in the oceans: inter-state/territorial disputes; terrorism; piracy; smuggling; trafficking; illegal fishing (blue crime).

III. Geopolitical competition: critical infrastructure at sea; the role of new security technologies and the geopolitics of technologies

IV. Practical case studies: non-state actors; cybersecurity; climate change, privatisation; loss of biodiversity.

Head Lecturer(s)

Sarah Carreira da Mota

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Oral presentation : 25.0%
Essay: 35.0%
Mini Tests: 40.0%

Bibliography

- BOSILCA, RL, Ferreira, S, and Ryan, BJ (2022) Routledge Handbook of Maritime Security. Routledge

- BUEGER, C, and Edmunds, T (2024) Understanding Maritime Security. Oxford University Press

- GROVE, E (2022) The future of Sea Power. Routledge

- LEVAGGI, AG (2023) Great Power competition in the Southern Oceans: from the Indo-Pacific to the South Atlantic. Palgrave Macmillan

- MCCABE, RC, Sanders, D, and Speller, I (2020) Europe, Small navies and maritime security: balancing tradiyional roles and emergent threats in the 21st century. Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies series. Routledge

- PEOPLES, C, and Vaughan-Williams, N (2020) Critical Security Studies (3rd ed.) Routledge