International relations

Security and Insecurity in Global Politics

Module code: L2061N
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar, Lecture
Assessment modes: Coursework, Essay

Security is key to international relations. The United Nations specifies its purpose as maintaining ‘international peace and security’. Its most powerful organ is the UN Security Council. But what is security in global politics? Who or what needs to be secured? Against which insecurities? And how?

This module will equip you with different analytical approaches to navigate such question by focusing on developing global insecurities such as:

• war
• terrorism
• technology
• pandemics
• climate change.

You will also learn to critically assess different policy approaches for dealing with these issues, including by international organisations, states and non-state actors.

Module learning outcomes

• Understand different concepts of security.
• Critically examine a variety of contemporary security issues.
• Understand the manner in which theoretical perspectives have been applied to examine these international security issues.