|
 Academic Year:
| 2013/4 |
| Owning Department/School:
| Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies |
| Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
Semester 1 |
| Assessment:
| CW 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| |
| Description:
| Aims: This unit aims to: * Identify and analyse the main currents in the academic and policy debate on Europe security; * Study and assess the utility and explanatory power of different theories and approaches to European security; * To explore the nature of contemporary European security by analysing specific policy issues such as transatlantic relations, the changing role of NATO, the emerging role of the EU as a security provider, Russia's re-emergence as a great power, and the shifting pattern of security relations in the continent; * Examine the security role of states, international organisations and non-state actors in the contemporary European system; * Discuss the main security challenges facing Europe and the role of the EU, NATO and individual states in addressing them; * Develop skills in international political analysis and in conducting seminars. Learning Outcomes: Students who complete the unit successfully will be able to demonstrate that they: * Have acquired a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and new insights in contemporary European security studies, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of this field of study; * A comprehensive understanding of the techniques of investigation and analysis applicable to the study of European security; * Originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in European security studies; * Conceptual knowledge that enables students to both evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in European security studies, and to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses. Skills: The key skills the unit will hone and further develop are: * Advanced research skills in identifying, locating and exploiting a wide range of descriptive, evaluative and theoretical literature. * Intellectual skills of conceptual, original and independent thinking, critical analysis, synthesis and reasoned argument. * Skills of assessment and judgment in relation to the soundness of competing arguments and scenarios, including the reporting and assessing of qualitative and quantitative data. * Generic and transferable skills related to the oral and written presentation of ideas. * Skills of self-direction, self-evaluation and time management. Content: * Introduction: European Security in the Twenty-First Century * From multipolarity to bipolarity * The Cold War and its aftermath * Transatlantic relations * The 'Big Three': Germany, France and the UK * NATO * EU * The Balkans * Russia and Europe: the Empire Strikes Back? * Europe and the Middle East. |
| Programme availability: |
PL50766 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
PL50766 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
PL50766 is available for Auditing on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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