Studiegids

nl en

European Security

Vak
2014-2015

Admission requirements

At least BSA (40 ects).

Description

By making the possibility of war between its members unthinkable, EU integration has provided most of the European continent with unprecedented stability, further increased by the end of the Cold War. In the wake of the latest civil wars in the Middle East and North Africa, the Ukrainian crisis and the ebola epidemic, however, the European Union is now confronting a number of both old and old security challenges.

This course will provide a broad overview of European security by being divided into two parts. The first part of the course will provide an overview of the evolving concept of security, analyzing the actors, decision-making processes and documents related to EU security policymaking. The second part will then focus on some key topical security issues, analyzing how and to what extent they concern the EU and what can the Union and its member states do to address them. Specifically, the course will focus on terrorism, organized crime, energy and environmental security, migrations and global pandemics. The concluding two sessions will concentrate on the Eastern and Southern European neighborhoods, analyzing the civil wars in Libya and Syria and the crisis in Ukraine.

Course objectives

By the end of the course, students should be able two:

  • understand the concept of security, its evolution over time and its military and non-military components;

  • analyze the main security issues confronted by EU member states and the European Union at large;

  • assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of EU responses to these challenges;

  • elaborate a new European Security Strategy.

Timetable

See website Minor EUS.

Mode of instruction

Lectures and Seminars.

Course load

Total course load is 5 ec x 28 hours = 140 hours:

  • course participation (12 × 2 hours = 24 hours);

  • time for studying the compulsory literature and preparation for the lectures (4 × 12 ours = 48 hours);

  • preparing for class presentation (8 hours);

  • researching and writing the end of term paper (60 hours).

Assessment method

The final mark will be a combination of the following notes obtained during the classes, weighted in the following way:

  • take active part in class discussions (20%);

  • give a presentation (20%);

  • write a new European Security Strategy (60%).

Retake
There will be a retake for the EU Security Strategy.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used.

Reading list

The compulsory literature for weekly readings will be made available during the course.

Registration

Via uSis.

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable.

Remarks

None.

Contact

Dhr. Dr. E. (Eugenio) Cusumano