F1IS 4320 - European Security and Defence Policies: Evolution and Key Challenges

The course offers both a general introduction to, and a more in-depth analysis of, the rapidly evolving European security environment. It focuses on the way in (and the extent to) which especially the EU has addressed the main challenges to European security. Given the ever-changing nature of the landscape, special attention will be paid to emerging security threats and recent or ongoing strategic shocks.

The module provides 1) a historical overview and a broad survey of the institutional landscape, security architecture and policy tools in and across Europe; and 2) a balanced analysis of the main issues involved, with a special focus on current threats and challenges. It also aims at stimulating the students to discuss specific themes related to institutional, thematic, or geographic aspects of the Union's Common Security and Defence Policy and related aspects of European security (from the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict to the future of NATO) while giving them a ‘flavour' of how policy is actually made in Brussels and the main capitals.

The first part of the course will briefly focus on the genesis and evolution of EU’s (and in part also NATO’s) action to tackle security challenges over the past decades – up to the present - and its complex machinery. The second part of the course will consist of seminars based on students’ presentations, on topics to be agreed with the instructor.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, students should be able to acquire

• A detailed knowledge of the evolution, formation and implementation of European security and defence policy.
• Drafting skills to communicate effectively technical knowledge related to policy conception and/or implementation.
• Capacity to analyze independently and critically the new and emerging challenges to Europe’s security.

Professional Skills:

Teamwork; oral and written communication; critical thinking

Some knowledge of the EU’s history and institutional architecture is useful but not a mandatory prerequisite.

Each lecture will leave plenty of space for student-teacher discussion on the topics addressed and especially on current events of relevance to the module, thus encouraging the students to follow current events and developments and to come forward and engage in active exchanges with the instructor.

In addition, formal feedback will be given orally at the end of each group presentation, as well as on the policy paper - on request - at the end of the course.

The assessment for this module will consist of the balanced average between (1) a mid-term written take home exam, (2) group work in view of and with a shared oral presentation, and (3) an individual policy paper broadly related to the topic of the presentation. Each of the three assessments carries equal weight, in principle, although the instructor may marginally adjust the final grade also in the light of each student’s active participation in class discussions.

• A take-home exam will take place after the first 6 sessions of lecturing. It will consist of two or three questions based on the lectures given, the slides provided and the background readings.
• Groupwork will consist of a live presentation on a topic to be agreed with the instructor. Topics may relate to a thematic or geographic sub-theme of the module. The presentation can take the form of a standard, ‘conference-style’ presentation or more creative/original forms such as an Oxford-style debate (arguments pro and con).
• An individual policy paper (max 2,500 words excluding references) will be submitted by each student and will relate to the subject matter of that student’s group presentation. The instructor will provide guidelines for its drafting in due time.

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester.
• Online learning activities: up to 2 hour a week / 12 hours a semester.
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 4 hours a week / 48 hours a semester.
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 33 hours a semester.
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 33 hours a semester