6 ECTS credits
150 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 6021215FNW for working students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
The Course provides an introductory overview of the European Union’s (EU) security and defence policies and the complex decision-making and institutionalization processes that define it, emphasis being given to emerging internal and external security trends. The aim of this Course is to provide students with introductory knowledge in one of the most dynamic areas of the European integration process, i.e. European Security and Defence. The Course examines the theoretical, institutional, and global dimensions of the European security and defence integration and the challenges and opportunities faced by the EU as it enhances its global security role and engagement in countering emerging threats at home and abroad. For instance, terrorism has advanced from a peripheral threat on the margins of international affairs to being regarded as a high strategic priority to the EU. Equally, the geopolitics of new technologies has exacerbated the impact and reach of hybrid threats, and the EU and other states worldwide have been devoting unprecedented resources to tackle their root causes and combating their trans-border effects. The Course is organized around the main concepts used to study the European security and defence architecture and governance, the EU’s global strategy and power status, the latest advancements in security and defence capacity-building, and the EU-NATO dynamics. In particular, the Course will explore how the EU frames and operationalizes its security and defence in the context of emerging threats and risks, as well as emerging and disruptive security technologies. It will also highlight how cutting-edge cyber and drone technologies are giving rise to or countering new forms of conflict management, special consideration being given to the EU’s normative position and practical measures in this regard.
The Course will comprise of interactive classes divided in seven Modules, each consisting of brief introductory remarks covering the main themes of the respective session, followed by class presentations and discussions based on the reading materials. Emphasis is given to student-driven discussions concerning the various concetual and empirical issues raised by the compulsory and recommended readings. Students are invited to engage critically with the assigned reading materials for each lecture, prepare questions, and make constructive and informed contributions to class debates. This will also require students to consult online resources, identify past, recent, and current EU policy and institutional developments in the fields of security and defence, evaluate relevant initiatives related to the Course’s main topics, and provide in-class conceptual and policy analysis. Examples of emerging security and defence threats and risks for the EU will be discussed during each class.
The Course is set to equip students with relevant conceptual tools to critically examine and engage with the finer nuances of the EU’s own brand of security and defence making. The Course will enable students to develop their own standpoint with regard to these dimensions and the pros and cons of the policy and institutionalization processes of European security and defence. As well, students will gain experience in assessing and evaluating the EU’s security and defence strategies from theoretical, policy and institutional perspectives. Students will explore the role of the EU in this strategic field and in relation to the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the European Defence Fund (EDF), including the dilemmas and trade-offs between different tactics, by identifying theoretical and policy problems, choosing appropriate analytical and conceptual tools, and by examining recent and current policy and institutional initiatives.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Active Class Participation and Attendance (20% of the total grade)
Class Presentation and Summary of Reading Material (40% of the total grade)
Essay (40% of the total grade)
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of European Integration: Track 2: European Economy - European External Relations and Security Policy
Master of European Integration: Track 5: European External Relations and Security Policy - Migration and Europe
Master of European Integration: Track 6: European Environmental Governance - European External Relations and Security Policy
Master of European Integration: Track 9: European External Relations and Security Policy - Digitalisation and Europe