02/09/2021 Course Catalogue - International Security (PGSP11162)

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Security (PGSP11162) Introduction
Course Outline Glossary
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Summary The course will introduce students to the main theories and Introduction
approaches to security through historical and contemporary
security issues. The field of security studies has widened
Humanities and Social Science
significantly over the past 25 years, moving from purely Science and Engineering
military questions to other issues such as the environment or
migration, and from a systemic or state-level understanding Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
to society and the individual (human security). The course
starts by first engaging with how scholarly and practical Other Information
understandings of security have evolved in the past decades.
In order to do so, the course explores some key scholarly
Combined Course Timetable
developments in the evolution of security studies, most Prospectuses
notably by showcasing the difference between more
traditional rationalist approaches with constructivist and Important Information
critical ones. The course then explores the conceptual and  

empirical meaning of 'security' through a number of key issues

and topics, including the changing nature of war, the security
implications of new technologies such as drones and cyber
weapons, private security companies, counter-terrorism and
risk. The goal is to explore what these developing areas of
empirical security research mean for the concept of 'security',
how different theoretical lenses help us to answer empirical
research questions in different ways, how 'new' approaches to
security relate to 'traditional' approaches, and develop an
appreciation of ongoing limitations and challenges in the
field.
Course The course will introduce students to the main theories and
description approaches to security through historical and contemporary
security issues. The field of security studies has widened
significantly over the past 30 years, moving from purely
military questions to other issues such as terrorism and cyber
security, and from a systemic or state-level understanding to
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02/09/2021 Course Catalogue - International Security (PGSP11162)
society and the individual (human security).

The course is divided into two halves: theory and practice.

The first half explores historical and current theoretical
approaches to security, such as the difference between more
traditional rationalist approaches and constructivist and
critical ones. The second half then explores the practical
meaning of 'security' through a number of key issues and
topics. The goal is to explore what these developing areas of
empirical security research mean for the concept of 'security',
how different theoretical lenses help us to answer empirical
research questions in different ways, how 'new' approaches to
security relate to 'traditional¿ approaches, and develop an
appreciation of on-going limitations and challenges in the
field.

Course Outline

1. Classical security studies: an overview

2. Old and new wars
3. Critical security studies: an overview
4. Securitization
5. Risk
6. Terrorism
7. Surveillance, technology, and drones
8. Humanitarian intervention and human security
9. Intelligence and accountability
10. Cyberwar and cybersecurity

The course has 10 weeks of teaching. Each week there is a 1-

hour lecture (with all students) plus a 1-hour seminar per
week (in smaller groups), except week 1 when there is no
seminar. From week 2 onwards, seminars take place the same
day as the lecture.
The seminars are designed to give students an opportunity to
discuss the topic, lecture, and readings, share ideas and try
out arguments with other students.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)

Pre- Co-requisites
requisites
Prohibited Other None
Combinations requirements

Information for Visiting Students

Pre- None
requisites
High Yes
Demand
Course?

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2020/21, Available to Quota:  100

all students (SV1)
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours
Teaching 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
activities Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
(Further
Info)
Assessment Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
(Further
Info)

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02/09/2021 Course Catalogue - International Security (PGSP11162)
Additional Each course must accurately describe the balance of
Information assessment types and their weighting to arrive at the final
(Assessment) course mark/grade. See example below from Sociology of
Intoxication.

This course is assessed by:

40% Essay 1 of up to 1,500 words
60% Essay 2 of up to 2,500 words

Feedback Each course is now required to provide the opportunity for

at least one piece of formative assessment with associated
feedback within an appropriate timescale to enable
students to learn from this prior to the summative
assessment.

The first essay assessment process will include formative

feedback to help students with their second essay.

This field should be used to describe the assessment and

feedback strategies used on the course, along with their
indicative pattern and schedule of feedback.
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Have an extensive knowledge and critical understanding of some of

the major approaches in international security studies
2. Show a reflextive intellectual grasp of some of the most challenging
security issues today
3. Demonstrate an ability to apply specialised skills and analytical
tools to a variety of empirical cases
4. Demonstrate an ability to identify, conceptualise and define
abstract problems and issues related to security
5. Show transferable research skills such as advanced analytical
thinking and communication skills

Reading List
Barry Buzan & Lene Hansen (2009), The Evolution of International Security
Studies, (Cambridge University Press).
Roland Dannreuther (2007) International
Security: The Contemporary
Agenda (Polity).

(2010) Strategy in the Contemporary World: An
John Baylis et al.
Introduction to Strategic Studies 3rd Edition (Oxford University Press).
Collins, A. (ed.) (2010) Contemporary Security Studies, 2nd edition,.

Oxford: Oxford University Press

Studies: An Introduction, Routledge
Williams, Paul (ed) (2008) Security
Michael E. Brown et al (2005), New Global Dangers: Changing Dimensions
of
International Security

Barry Buzan, People, States and Fear: An Agenda for Security Studies
(1991)

O. Waever and J de Wilde, Security: A New Framework for
B. Buzan,
Analysis (1998)
Keith Krause and
M. Williams (eds), Critical Security Studies 1996
Bill McSweeney, Security, Identity and Interests: A Sociology of

International Relations (Cambridge Studies in International Relations), CUP

1999

Sheehan, International Security: An Analytical Survey
Michael

Michael E Smith, International Security: Politics, Policy, Prospects, Palgrave

2010

R Wyn-Jones, Security, Strategy and Critical Theory,1999

Joseph Nye, Understanding International Conflicts (2000)

Additional Information
Graduate Not entered
Attributes

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02/09/2021 Course Catalogue - International Security (PGSP11162)
and Skills
Keywords Not entered

Contacts
Course Dr Andrew Neal Course Mrs Casey Behringer
organiser Tel: (0131 6)50
4236 secretary Tel: (0131 6)50 2456

Email:
Email:

Andrew.Neal@ed.ac.uk Casey.behringer@ed.ac.uk

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