Course directory

OAGR 2100 - Private Sector, Private Security and International Risks

OAGR 2100 · Fall semester 2026-2027

Language of tuition
English
Course type
Cours séminaire
Number of hours
24
Credits
6

Information

Description

***UPDATED for 2026/27***

The course is intended to provide students with a global view of the interactions between international security issues and the private sector.

Notably since the 80s, privatisation and globalisation brought the private sector into international security issues, facing conflicts, organised crime, cyber-attacks, kidnappings, etc. This situation is rarely studied and generates some myths.

Through real examples, linked with the news, the highly experienced instructors will explain how international security affects the private sector from a strategic and an operational perspective, the different constraints faced by multinational companies, but also business opportunities generated by international security issues.

Students will be working and evaluated on real life case studies, preparing them to work for/with private companies.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Develop a global understanding of the relation between international security issues and the private sector
  • Evaluate risks and opportunities linked to international security issues for the private sector
  • Apply knowledge to be able to work efficiently in / with private sector

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

  • Foundation in risk assessment and risk prevention
  • Foundation of international crisis management, specific to the private sector
  • Oral & written communication adapted to the business and professional world
  • Teamwork

Prerequisites

The course intends to provide an overview of private sector for people either pursuing a professional project or broadening their understanding of international security through the lens of the private sector.

Teaching format

A mix of lectures, discussions, case studies, individual and group work, offsite visit (best effort basis)

Assessment

Students will be assessed on

  • 1 group presentation based on a case study 50%
  • 1 individual assessment 40%
  • class participation 10%

Workload

  • In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
  • Research and Preparation for Individual and Group Work: average workload

Readings

Main readings 5

  1. 1. CHASDI Richard J., Corporate Security Crossroads: responding to terrorism, cyber threats and other hazards in the global business environment. Praeger, 2018

  2. 2. FENNING, Richard, What on earth can go wrong? Tales from the risk business, 2021

  3. 3. International SOS foundation, “Duty of care” whitepapers, https://www.internationalsosfoundation.org/international

  4. 4. Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, https://www.voluntaryprinciples.org/

  5. 5. World Economic Forum, Global risk report 2026, https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2026/

Further readings 25

  1. • Business Diplomacy Today

  2. • Center For International Maritime Security (Cimsec)

  3. • Cyber Pouvoirs, France Inter

  4. • Cybersecurity Today, ITWC

  5. • Generation Jihad, FDD's Long War Journal

  6. • Global Security Briefing, Rusi

  7. • GREENGRASS, Captain Phillips, 2013

  8. • HACKFORD, Proof of life, 2000

  9. • Hold Your Fire, International Crisis Group

  10. • How To Get On A Watchlist

  11. • Le Collimateur, Le Rubicon

  12. • Le monde des espions: les nouveau corsaires, France Culture

  13. • Les Enjeux Internationaux, France Culture

  14. • Open Secret, the power of open-source intelligence

  15. • The Global Insight, Control Risks

  16. • Why It Matters, Council On Foreign Relations

  17. 10. LIANG, Qiao, XIANGSUI, Wang, Unrestricted warfare, 1999

  18. 11. TALEB, Nassim Nicholas, The Black Swan, Harlow, England: Penguin Books, 2008

  19. 12. WUCKER, M., The Gray Rhino: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore, London: Macmillan, 2016

  20. 13. Movies:

  21. 14. Additional sources: Podcasts

  22. 6. ABRAHAMSEN Rita, Williams Michael C., Security beyond the State: Private Security in International Politics. Cambridge University Press, 2011

  23. 7. DEMARAIS, Agathe, Backfire, Columbia University Press, 2022

  24. 8. CRANDALL, William Rick, PARNEL, John, SPILLAN, John, Crisis Management: Leading in the New Strategy Landscape, 4th Edition”, 2020

  25. 9. HOUGH, Peter, “International Security Studies: Theory and Practice 2nd Edition”, 2020

Teaching units

Unit no.Unit type Teaching unitsTeachers Number of hoursCredits
15333Cours séminaire Private sector, private security and international risks Romain DE CALBIAC, Beatrix RENAUT, Aurélien LAMBERT, Xavier CARN246

Teachers

  • Romain DE CALBIAC
  • Beatrix RENAUT
  • Aurélien LAMBERT
  • Xavier CARN

In the curricula

Contacts and resources

Contact
YOUNÈS Myriam