| Unit name | European Security |
|---|---|
| Unit code | POLIM0019 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Ana E Juncos Garcia |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The aim of this unit is to give students an in-depth understanding of one of the most dynamic areas of European integration: security and defence policies. The unit seeks to establish a critical appreciation of current debates about European security policy cooperation and how current developments challenges nation states in Europe. You will gain a better understanding of the key concepts and main theoretical approaches to the study of the EU as an international security actor. Moreover, the unit will provide empirically informed insights into the current transformation of European security and defence policies in a more geopolitically contested world.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit builds on the conceptual, theoretical and empirical knowledge developed in TB1. It uses the skills and insights gained there to ensure that students understand the transformation of European security and defence policies in the context of current international power shifts. The formative and summative assessments will also contribute to developing essay writing and other transferable skills.
An overview of content
The unit will examine issues relating to strategic culture, security strategy, defence capabilities, the securitisation of migration policies, and feminist foreign policy at the national and European levels. In addition, the unit will take a closer look at dynamics of security cooperation and competition in Europe and vis-à-vis Russia, the US and the UK.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The principal aim of the unit is to equip you to critically examine the transformation of European security and defence policies in the current context of international power shifts. The unit will therefore develop your interest in, and knowledge of European defence policies, security strategies and strategic cultures; the transformation of European armed forces and issues relating to strategic autonomy; security cooperation and competition between the EU and the US (including within the NATO framework), Russia, and the UK post-Brexit.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the unit, you will be able to:
The unit is taught through a mixture of online bitesize lectures, structured learning activities, in-person seminars and optional (online) activities. This wide range of activities will provide students with plenty of opportunities to engage with key concepts, issues and theories relevant to the study of European security. The learning activities will also ensure students can meet the learning outcomes of the unit and effectively engage with the formative and summative assessments.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
A 500-word essay outline.
Feedback on the essay outline will be provided in writing and in person, where possible, with an emphasis on the knowledge and skills that need to be demonstrated in the summative assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A 3,000-word essay [ILO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The essay requires you to critically reflect on the conceptual, theoretical and empirical issues covered in the unit, and demonstrate learning gained across the different weeks of the course. Feedback on the essay is provided in writing.
When assessment does not go to plan
You will normally complete the reassessment in the same format as outlined above. Students are expected to select a different essay question from the original list.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLIM0019).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
