Approaches to Security: Theories and Actors

Recommended Prerequisites

Knowledge of techniques and styles of academic writing.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methodologies include interactive sessions and active involvement of students in in-class discussions. Sessions include an introduction to the main topics, that are explored through the analysis and discussion of recommended readings, bringing out different approaches and allowing extensive discussion of theories and practice. Also, the discussion of individual essays will be of relevance in applying theoretical approaches and concepts to selected case-studies. 

Learning Outcomes

The Seminar’s goal is to develop analytical skills in the area of international security studies, the theoreticla debates that inform it, and the most relevant authors in this area of studies.

Specific objectives and competencies:

- analysis of different theoretical approaches to international security, discussing the concept, mapping its evolution and addressing future perspectives

- in-depth analysis of theoretical debates associated to traditional and critical perspectives on international security, identifying structuring elements and contributions

- critical anaysis competencies on the different approaches to international security, the theoretical debates, and cutting-edge contributions in this area of studies

- application of concepts and theories to the analysis of case studies.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Conceptualizing international security: what? Who? How? For whom?

2. Traditional approaches to security

3. Critical approaches to international security: mapping critical security studies

- Constructivism, Critical theory, post-colonialism, feminist approaches and post-structuralism

- Paris School, Copenhagen School and Aberystwyth School

4. Case-studies' analysis.  

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria Raquel de Sousa Freire

Assessment Methods

Avaliação
Continuous assessment: combination of written work, in-class participation and oral presentations.: 100.0%

Bibliography

Booth, Ken (2008) Theory of World Security. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Brown, Michael E. and Lynn-Jones, Sean M. (1995) Perils of Anarchy: Contemporary Realism and International Security. The MIT Press. 

Buzan, Barry and Hansen, Lene (2009) The Evolution of International Security Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Buzan, Barry and Waever, Ole (1997) Security: A New Framework for Analysis. Lynne Rienner Pub.

Hough, Peter; Malik, Shahin; Moran, Andrew and Pilbeam, Bruce (2015) International Security Studies: Theory and Practice. London: Routledge.

Sohlstrom, Ola (2008) Bridging Aberystwyth and Copenhagen: (de)securitising emancipation. VDM Verlag. Smith, Michael E. (2010) International Security: Politics, Policy, Prospects. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Vaughan-Williams, Nick and Peoples, Columba (2015) Critical security Studies: An Introduction. New York: Routledge.