F1IS 4650 - Governing Security in the XXIst Century: new theories, alternative practices?

Confronting theoretical debates with concrete diplomatic practices and case studies, this course will look at security governance in the 21st century in both Western and non-Western areas. Based on the assumption that ‘security’ is a socially constructed, essentially contested concept, the class will cover a vast array of approaches ranging from traditional, state-centric perspectives based on diplomatic and economic interests, to non-state, feminist and environmental alternative views which remain marginalized in today’s mainstream defense and security thinking. The course will tackle concrete and recent examples, with geographical focuses on Asia and Europe, and shed light on NATO diplomacy, security policy in less-scrutinized countries such as the Philippines and Mongolia, or movements like Extinction Rebellion and Fridays for Future, etc. It will involve students in hands-on exercises and real-life policy contexts and enable them to study what the varying conceptions of security imply as to who has the right to speak about security, and how security is practiced and governed.

Learning Outcomes:

Better appreciate, use and challenge the concepts and factors behind IR management/ defence diplomacy/ cooperation/ alliance management

Achieve refined and critical comprehension of the parameters/ trends in contemporary international security issues

Understand and be able to present and debate 4 to 6 cases of the recent evolution of the concepts of security and security architecture.

Grasp the dynamics between theoretical concepts and actual decision-making/ between policies and strategic communication

Understand the various standpoints/ interests/ rhetorical stances of actors, depending on their geographical origins, sociological and political backgrounds

Professional Skills:

Capacity to give written and oral briefs adapted for authorities in diplomatic/political/ military contexts,

Negotiation and debating skills : ability to research an argument connected to actual crises and actively structure and participate in a debate,

Ability to analyse specific cases and put them in historical/ theoretical perspective for research or policy-making purposes,

Ability to integrate IR and foreign security concepts/challenges in structured thinking and connect different variables (economic, military, political, diplomatic)

Fair knowledge of main IR theories and of international institutions

Interest in strategic affairs, international issues, security and defense in the XXth and XXIst centuries.

Capacity to work across disciplines (sociology, political science, administration) and with a comparative approach.

Student will be 1) given personalized in-class or online (written or oral) feedback for individual work and 2) invited to get in touch at allotted time slots with instructors through visioconferencing for questions, general feedback or any specific pedagogical or follow-up question.

Individual in-class presentation or video briefing (30%) from a concrete policy case.

In-class quiz (definition of concepts, basic institutional or factual knowledge) 20%

Group debate, on a given topic (negotiation simulation or conference panel) (individual grade, 40%)

In-class participation 10%

In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

Online learning activities: n/a

Reading and Preparation for Class: 2 hours a week/ 24 hours a semester

Research and Preparation for Group Work: 3 hours a week over the last 4 weeks

Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 2 to 4 hours over the semester