Information Package
baskent.edu.tr

Master's of International Relations with Thesis

PSIR574

CRITICAL APPROACHES TO SECURITY

Course Code
PSIR574
Semester
-
Theory+Practice
3 + 0
ECTS
10
Course TypeElective Course
Course LevelMaster's Degree With Thesis
Year of Study-
Semester-
ECTS10
Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

  1. Have knowledge about the concept of security and main theoretical debates regarding the concept;
  2. Grasp the development and transformation of theoretical approaches;
  3. Have a general knowledge about the main concepts regarding the security.
  4. Learn how traditional and critical security studies evaluates different concepts in a comparative way.
Mode of DeliveryFace to face
PrerequisitesNo
Recommended Optional Programme ComponentsNo recommended optional program components.
Course DescriptionThis course is designed to introduce students the historical evolution of the Security Studies and the changing perceptions toward security. Starting from the Cold War period, the main theoretical approaches, concepts and debates will be covered. Particularly, the transformation of both theoretical and conceptual frameworks in parallel with the emergence of the critical approaches will be the focus of this course. Within this framework, the linkages between the concept of security and other main concepts (i.e. war, terrorism, environment, economy, humanitarian intervention, and peace) will be analyzed. The course will also focus on the questions of how and to what extent the critical security studies differentiate from the traditional approaches.
Course Contents
WEEK TOPICS
1st Week General Introduction
2nd Week Introduction to the Concept of Security
3rd Week The Concept of Security: Traditional Approaches
4th Week Re-thinking Security in the Post-Cold War I
5th Week Re-thinking Security in the Post-Cold War II
6th Week Foundation of Critical Security Studies
7th Week Approaches to Critical Security Studies-I: Constructivist Theories
8th Week Approaches to Critical Security Studies-II: Feminist and Gender Approaches
9th Week Approaches to Critical Security Studies-III: Securitization Theory
10th Week Security Issues-I: War
11th Week Security Issues-II: Peace
12th Week Security Issues-III: Terrorism
13th Week Security Issues-IV: Human Security
14th Week Security Issues-V: Migration and Border Security
Recommended or Required ReadingRequired Reading
Books
Buzan, Barry and Lene Hansen (2009) The Evolution of International Security Studies, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
K. Krause and M. Williams (1997) Critical Security Studies: Concepts and Cases, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

Articles/Chapters
Alex J. Bellamy (2013) "The Responsibility to Protect" içinde Paul D. Williams (ed.), Security Studies: An Introduction. New York: Routledge, s. 486-502.
Arnold Wolfers (1952) "National Security as an Ambiguous Symbol", Political Science Quarterly, 67 (4), pp. 481-501.
David Baldwin (1995) "Security Studies and the End of the Cold War", World Politics, 48 (1), s. 117-141.
David Baldwin (1997) "The Concept of Security", Review of International Studies, 23 (1), s. 5-26.
Jack S. Levy (1998) "The Causes of War and the Conditions of Peace", Annual Review of Political Science, 1, pp. 139-165.
Jeffrey Haynes (2015) "The Arab Spring and Democracy: Problems and Prospects", içinde Peter Hough et. al. (eds.), International Security Studies: Theory and Practice. New York: Routledge, s. 393-400.
Ken Booth (1991) "Security and Emancipation", Review of International Studies, (17) s. 313-326.
Michael E. Smith (2010) "International Terrorism" içinde International Security: Politics, Policy, Prospects, Palgrave Macmillan, s. 151-178.
Peter Hough and Shahin Malik (2015) "China: Security and threat perceptions", içinde Peter Hough et. al. (eds.), International Security Studies: Theory and Practice. New York: Routledge, s. 358-365.
Pınar Bilgin (2002) `Beyond Statism in Security Studies Human Agency and Security in the Middle East, Review of International Affairs (2), s. 100-18.
Roland Paris (2001) "Human Security: Paradigm Shift or Hot Air", International Security, 26 (2), s. 87-102.
Shahin Malik (2015) "Challenging Orthodoxy: Critical Security Studies", içinde Peter Hough et. al. (eds.), International Security Studies: Theory and Practice. New York: Routledge, s. 31-43.
Shahin Malik (2015) "Human Security", içinde Peter Hough et. al. (eds.), International Security Studies: Theory and Practice, New York: Routledge, pp. 57-72.
Stephen M. Walt (1991) "The Renaissance of Security Studies", International Studies Quarterly, 35 (2), s. 211-239.
Paul D. Williams (2013) "Security Studies: An Introduction", Paul D. Williams (ed.), Security Studies: An Introduction. New York: Routledge, s. 1-12.
Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Questions/Answers
  • Presentation
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Quantity Percentage (%)
Assignment 4 60
Presentation of Book 1 20
Other 1 20
Total(%) 100
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%) 100
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%) 0
Total(%) 100
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration (Hour) Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work 14 4 56
Preparation for Final exam
Course hours 14 3 42
Preparation for Midterm exam
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam
Homework 4 45 180
Presentation (including preperation) 1 25 25
Total Work Load303
Total Work Load / 30 (h)10.1
ECTS Credit of the Course10
Language of InstructionTurkish
Work Placement(s)No

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
K1 X X
K2
K3
K4 X X X
K5 X
K6
K7 X X X X
K8 X X X