| CODE | DST5111 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | International Relations and Contemporary Security Studies | ||||||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Diplomatic Studies | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit provides students with an overview of the most important debates and issues characterising the discipline of International Relations. In addition, the study-unit enhances the students’ general analytical abilities, study skills, organisational capacity and writing style. During the 2nd semester the study-unit examines current issues of International Relations with an emphasis on regional and sub-regional empirical analysis. It consists of case studies and presentations on topics dealing with the challenges of international organizations, regional cooperative arrangements, minorities, human rights, peacekeeping, conflict prevention and conflict resolution in the Mediterranean and beyond. Study-Unit Aims: The aims of this study-unit are to: - introduce students to a broad range of theoretical perspectives in international relations and further their knowledge of this discipline; - introduce students to a broad range of theoretical perspectives in contemporary security studies; - analyse with the students a range of case studies and contemporary issues related to the Mediterranean. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - define and recognise the core theories underpinning International Relations; - comprehend theories of Security Studies; - apply the above to the analysis of current events and case studies; - recall the concept of regionalism and relate this to the Mediterranean context; - focus on conflict resolution theory and illustrate this through case studies in the Mediterranean. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to enhance the following skills: - to recognise, categorise, and distinguish between the various International Relations theories; - to synthesise and formulate conceptual frameworks based on the above theories and utilise them to analyse current events; - to review, discuss and illustrate the local, international and Mediterranean dynamic in the context of International Relations theory. Main Texts and Supplementary Readings: Main Texts All main texts are available at MEDAC Library. - Calleya, S. Security Challenges in the Euro-Med Area in the 21st Century: Mare nostrum. Oxford: Routledge, 2013. - Kegley, C.W. & Wittkopf, E.R. World Politics: Trend and Transformation, [latest edition]. Thomson & Wadsworth, 2021. - Blanton, S.L. & Kegley, C.W. World Politics: Trend and Transformation (17th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2021. - Bailes, A. The World of Security and Peace Research in a 40-year perspective. Stockholm: SIPRI, 2006. - Nye, J. The Paradox of American Power. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Supplementary readings - Barry, B. The United States and the Great Powers. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2004. - Butler, M. International Conflict Management. London: Routledge, 2009. - Collins, A. Contemporary Security Studies (6th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022. - Crocker, C., Hampson, F.E., & Aall, P. (Eds.) Leashing the Dogs of War: Conflict Management in a Divided War. Washington D.C.: United States Institute of Peace, 2007. - Hough, P., Understanding Global Security (4th ed.). Oxford: Routledge, 2018. - Huntington, S. P. The Clash of Civilizations? Foreign Affairs, 72(3), 22–49. Summer 1993. - Kagan, R. Paradise and Power. New York: Vintage, 2004. - Levy, J. S., 'International Sources of Interstate and Intrastate War', in Crocker et al., (Eds.), Leashing the Dogs of War: Conflict Management in a Divided War. Washington D.C.: United States Institute of Peace, 2007. - Renner, M. Fighting for Survival: Environmental Decline, Social Conflict and the New Age Insecurity. London: Earthscan Publications, 1997. - Zartmann, I.W., Peacemaking in International Conflict: Methods and Techniques'. Washington D.C.: United States Institute of Peace, 2007. - Williams, P., ‘Violent Non-State Actors and National and International Security’, Zurich: ISN, ETH Zurich, 2008. - Caves, J. & Carus, S. ‘The Future of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Their Nature and Role in 2030’, Occasional Paper 10, Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Washington, D.C.: National Defence University, 2014. - Grech, O. & Wohlfeld, M., ‘Human Rights and the Conflict Cycle’. Malta: MEDAC, 2010. - Carment, D., & Schnabel, A. (Eds.), ‘Conflict Prevention: Path to Peace or Grand Illusion? (Foundations of Peace)’. Tokyo: United Nations Press, 2003. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Stephen Calleya (Co-ord.) Natalia Vassilievna Mirimanova |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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