Introduction to Security Studies - JPB248

• Anglický název: Introduction to Security Studies
• Zajišťuje: Katedra politologie (23-KP)
• Fakulta: Fakulta sociálních věd
• Platnost: od 2019
• Semestr: zimní
• E-Kredity: 5
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: zimní s.:
• Rozsah, examinace: zimní s.:2/1, Zk [HT]
• Počet míst: neurčen / neurčen (30)
• Minimální obsazenost: neomezen
• Virtuální mobilita / počet míst: ne
• Stav předmětu: vyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Je zajišťováno předmětem: JPB153
• Poznámka: povolen pro zápis po webu
• Garant: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D.
• Vyučující: Mgr. Jonathan Collins; PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D.; Mgr. Kledian Myftari
• Třída: Courses not for incoming students
• Neslučitelnost : JPB153
• Je neslučitelnost pro: JPB153

Anotace

Poslední úprava: Mgr. Jonathan Collins (30.09.2022)

Lecture Room & Time: JPEK205 18:30
Seminars (ODD) Room & Time: JPEK314 17:00 – First Session October 19th
Seminars (EVEN) Room & Time: JPEK314 17:00 – First Session October 26th

Lecturers
Jonathan Collins
[e-mail]
Office Hours: Thursdays 14:30-16:30, by appointment.

Kledian Myftari
[e-mail]
Office Hours: Tuesdays 14:15-15:00.

Tomáš Karásek ([e-mail])

Appointments are made on the website: https://konzultace.fsv.cuni.cz/reservation/default

Lecture Meeting Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:[e-mail]2/1664267003405?context=%7B%22Tid%22:%22e09276da-f934-4086-bf08-8816a20414a2%22,%22Oid%22:%228fcd1b93-851e-44f5-8410-6f24f9927a6c%22%7D

Seminar Meeting Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:[e-mail]2/1664267040715?context=%7B%22Tid%22:%22e09276da-f934-4086-bf08-8816a20414a2%22,%22Oid%22:%228fcd1b93-851e-44f5-8410-6f24f9927a6c%22%7D

Course description
Security Studies is an ever-growing field of research, covering various topics from the traditional ideals of war and armed conflict to the more nuanced and critical understanding of society's in(security). Therefore, topics will include the International Security System, Armed Conflicts, Hybrid Warfare, Terrorism, the Far-Right, and other aspects of the concept we are just beginning to consider. The different topics covered throughout the semester will give students a starting point for exploration into an important realm of research, offering an engaging overview of what is meant when we use the word security.

Cíl předmětu

Poslední úprava: Mgr. Jonathan Collins (28.08.2022)

The curriculum introduces students to the many layers we as scholars examine in security studies, providing an overview of both traditional and non-traditional approaches to the broadly-conceived concept. We will start by reviewing the concept of security itself and outlining the contrasts between traditional and non-traditional ways of thinking. We will then branch off into various subjects, split in the first half via traditional lenses and the second half covering more critical understandings. The conventional lens includes topics on the International Security System, the traditions of war and war-time thinking, and the threat of hybrid warfare. In the second half, we will turn our attention to the non-traditional viewpoint, including topics like Terrorism, Political and Social imbalances, and other emerging critical security issues. Thus, students will gain a broadly encompassing starting point for security studies research by the end of the course.

Podmínky zakončení předmětu

Poslední úprava: Mgr. Jonathan Collins (28.08.2022)

Lectures: Regular attendance and active participation

Seminars: the seminars will take place on  Wednesdays at 17.00 , all students are divided into two seminar groups (one group will attend on even weeks and the second group on odd weeks)

Midterm Exam (30 %)
The goal of the mid-term exam is to stimulate students to apply the knowledge they have learned from the lectures while also encouraging critical thinking on issues within the security studies field. The midterm will take place during class time on Week 9, where students will be offered the full hour and twenty minutes to complete the exam.
 
Seminar Presentation (15%) – 10 Minutes
Seminar sessions will be held every week – divided into two groups alternating between even/odd weeks – of the winter semester (excluding week 1, 2, 9, & 10). These sessions are designed for interactivity and discussion, where students will deliver a 10-minute presentation on a self-chosen topic:
Taking advantage of the international nature of the group, students will present on one of their home country’s security concerns. These concerns can be from any discussion points throughout the class, or another issue not covered. Students are asked to briefly introduce the topic (using any appropriate visual aids) for 10 minutes and prepare for potential questions from the instructor and or peers.
 
Group Project (55 %)
In the second week of class, students will be divided into groups in which they will work together throughout the semester. Groups will be able to select their topic (or if necessary be given one by the lecturers) to explore more deeply one of the layers of security discussed within the class or beyond. The students will be asked to outline, in policy report format, the chosen security issues of the topic, demonstrate the current challenges faced, and come up with possible recommendations to better the current system. Divided among a draft, presentation, and final report, students will be given guidance on how to produce a meaningful and important piece of research.  

• Draft (10 %) – 1000 Words +/- 10% An important part of any writing process in academia is the draft. Thus, in Week 6, groups will be asked to submit an outline of their work which will include a brief introduction to the topic, its importance to the field of security studies, the structure and or concepts of the work, and 10-20 scholarly articles and or policy papers that you aim to work with.

• Presentation (15 %) – 20 Minutes The final two weeks of class are meant for group presentations. Groups will present their work on their chosen topics and be given feedback by both the lecturer and students. Importance will be placed on the group’s ability to provide an adequate introduction to the security issue, the different challenges and approaches to tackling the issue, and why the topic matters in the field of security. PowerPoint presentations and other handouts or deliverables are very much welcome.  Please use the feedback as a guide to make your work final report as strong as possible.

• Final Report (30 %) – 3000 Words +/- 10% Due on January 15^th, 2023, groups are to submit their final reports on Moodle. The project should be roughly structured with the following general outline: 1. Introduction to the security issue 2. Why it matters to the security studies field 3. Current challenges in tackling the problem 4. A set of recommendations on how practitioners and or academics are approaching the problem 5. Conclusion from all findings

Literatura

Poslední úprava: Mgr. Jonathan Collins (28.08.2022)

All required literature is uploaded to Moodle within its appropriate week. 

Metody výuky

Poslední úprava: Mgr. Jonathan Collins (28.09.2022)

The core of the course consists of lectures that guide the students through the basics of security studies, covering its different theoretical and practical bases while exploring the divergent perspectives in the field. In the mid-semester exam, students will be asked to recall information from the lectures, readings, and the in-class discussions while also being invited to think critically about the concept of security and provide their interpretations as to why certain elements matter. Additionally, at the beginning of the semester, students will be formed into working groups, which will collaborate to produce a final policy project by the end of the term.The group project will encourage teamwork and cooperative skills, creating an essential step-by-step piece of research that includes a draft, a presentation of initial findings, and a final report. Each of these steps will encourage students to dive deep into a topic of interest while providing a valuable opportunity to see how practitioners tackle and conceptualise security problems. Finally, seminars will provide an avenue for class discussion and participation. By the end, the student's final work will represent their deeper understanding of what is meant by "security," how one develops a policy report on the topic, and why their chosen topic matters within the field.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, students will have a basic conceptualisation and understanding of the many facets of what constitutes security studies. This subject will enhance the students' knowledge and critical understanding of what is meant by "security" and allow them to explore different aspects of the field they find interesting. The midterm exam will challenge the students' knowledge obtained from the lectures and inspire them to think critically , with questions that are both conventional and unconventional in academic studies. The group work on the draft, presentation, and final report will encourage and develop the students' collaborative skills and allow them to immerse themselves into a facet of security studies. Finally, the seminar sessions will inspire class discussion and debate on important topics. Ultimately, the course will provide a taste of what security specialists study and why it is essential, inspiring students to continue their exploration of the field of security.

The course comprises twelve lectures, together with four seminars. (For the seminars, the students will be divided in two groups of the same size, group A will attend the seminars on odd weeks and group B will attend the seminars on even weeks - see the schedule in SIS.) The syllabus includes an overview of recommended literature, the study of which is to facilitate students' understanding of the historical and theoretical context of the lectures' content. In order to prepare for the midterm, students will be told during the semester a range of specific current security issues, whose empirical knowledge will be required (see below). 

In winter semester 2022, the course will be taught in a hybrid mode, enabling both face-to-face and online sessions via zoom.

Join Team Meeting:

Lecture:  https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:[e-mail]2/1664267003405?context=%7B%22Tid%22:%22e09276da-f934-4086-bf08-8816a20414a2%2 %22Oid%22:%228fcd1b93-851e-44f5-8410-6f24f9927a6c%22%7D

Seminar: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:[e-mail]2/1664267040715?context=%7B%22Tid%22:%22e09276da-f934-4086-bf08-8816a20414a2%22,%22Oid%22:%228fcd1b93-851e-44f5-8410-6f24f9927a6c%22%7D