This course will focus on challenging and understanding the “security-development nexus”, its relevance and limits. Practitioners and policymakers highlight the need to consider development projects together with security, diplomacy and defense, in order for interventions and fragile states support to be successful. The Nexus,"Contiguum" or "3D" (which stands for Development, Diplomacy, and Defense) have been hot topics in the EU and bilateral cooperation agencies since the early 2000s. Growing criticisms however point to the need for political solutions rather than the pursuit of military options, and to the need for taking into account local populations' needs, grievances and expectations, including in terms of State presence, justice, and governance.
The class will first look at the basics of security and development, as well as their correlates and the dilemmas they carry, in particular for humanitarian affairs. Specific emphasis will then be given to prevention, civil-military relations, stabilization and security sector reform. The class will include group presentations, which will require active participation. Special attention will be given to the Sahel region as well as the Middle East.
A concrete case requiring all students to participate in classes 11 and 12 is also envisaged, depending on technical constraints.
Students should be ready for rigorous preparation ahead of each class and should be ready for a participatory discussion.
The course will be a balance of theoretical and operational issues with frequent illustrations based on project development and project management in fragile states.
The course is recommended for students aiming at a career in foreign affairs, risk and security consulting, as well as with the UN, development agencies and NGOs in the development, security and humanitarian fields.
Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the issues related to security, stabilization and development in fragile and conflict affected states.
2. Understand the challenges of aid projects in the security and development field
3. Develop specific skills – stakeholder analysis, do-no-harm analysis, conflict analysis
4. Grow critical analysis and capacity to argue on the pros and cons of policy decisions
Professional Skills
Project Management: Initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals
Team Work: Working with a group of people to achieve a shared goal or outcome in an effective manner
Advocacy: Effectively communicating, conveying, negotiating or asserting the interests, desires, needs and rights of an initiative, policy, program, an individual or a group
Conflict resolution: Facilitating an informal or formal process to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to a dispute
Understanding stakeholders: Understanding and taking into account the priorities and concerns of others
Research & Analysis: Collecting and analysing information to increase understanding of a topic or issue
Creative thinking: Looking at problems or situations from an original perspective
Critical thinking: Engaging in reflective and independent thinking
Problem solving: Using generic or ad hoc methods in an orderly manner to find solutions
Data Management: Implementing policies and procedures that put organizations in control of their data
- There will be additional reading recommended for each class
- Ample time required for class preparation, group work and individual paper
Final Individual Written Assignment (2500 words*): 60%
Participation (including Group Case): 10%
* +/- 10% Not including annexes and references (references are mandatory). In hard copy at beginning of class + by email to julien.serre.scpo@analyse.urkund.com and Julien.
serre@sciencepo.fr - late submissions will be penalized. Submissions English, (allowed in French for the Final Individual Assignment).