General Information
| Course Code | W_JSM_222 |
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| Credits | 6 EC |
| Period | P4 |
| Course Level | 200 |
| Language of Tuition | English |
| Faculty | Faculty of Humanities |
| Course Coordinator | dr. P.A. Mello |
| Examiner | dr. P.A. Mello |
| Teaching Staff |
dr. M.R. Luitjens dr. P.A. Mello |
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Part of programme(s)
Bachelor
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Practical Information
You need to register for this course yourself. The (de)registration deadlines can be found on VU.nl
| Teaching Methods | Seminar*, Lecture |
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*You cannot select a group yourself for this teaching method, you will be placed in a group.
Course Objective
Upon completion of the course, the student will
- have a thorough knowledge and understanding of key issues and
challenges to international security, including
o trends in the changing nature of warfare
o current wars and military interventions
o radicalization and terrorism
o proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
- have a thorough knowledge and understanding of key practices of the
international community in addressing challenges to international
security, including
o peacekeeping
o the United Nations system of collective security and legitimizing the use of armed force
- have a thorough knowledge and understanding of core concepts and
debates in the social scientific study of international security,
including the
o security dilemma
o ‘rally-around-the-flag’ effect
o democratic peace
Course Content
The course is composed of two parts. The first part lays the conceptual groundwork in four consecutive sessions, examining trends in the changing nature of warfare, and discussing the collective security system of the United Nations and UN peacekeeping. The second part addresses traditional and current challenges to international security, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the Russian war against Ukraine, and the politics of military assistance. This is followed by sessions on the democratic peace phenomenon, democratic institutions, and the war involvement of liberal democracies. It specifically investigates the influence of parliaments, political parties, public opinion, and political and strategic culture on government policy and decisions in the context of armed conflict. Finally, sessions on radicalization and terrorism and the nexus of war and technology round off the course.
Additional Information Teaching Methods
Lectures and seminarsMethod of Assessment
The course grade will be based on the results of two assignments, each of which amounts to 50% of the final grade. The first is an individual assignment and the second is a group assignment.