PO3EUS-European Security

Module Provider: School of Politics and International Relations
Number of credits: 20 [10ECTS credits]
Level: 6
Terms in which taught: Autumn, Spring and Summer
Module Convenor: Professor DBG Heuser
Pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2009/0

Email: d.b.g.heuser@reading.ac.uk

Aims:

Assessable learning outcomes:
This module aims to provide students with an understanding of European security and defence politics, with a focus on the present and recent past, but against the background of previous long-term developments and constellations. It seeks to examine the different dimensions - political, historical, cultural, mythical, economic, social, institutional etc - that come together to make European security politics so complex.

Additional outcomes:
By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to:
- understand the influence of historical dimensions on European security
- be able to explain the role of states and international organisations in European security policy making
- understand the influence of 'soft' and 'hard' factors on European security policy making
- be able to compare and contrast the stances of five major powers in this subject area - Britain, France, Germany, the US and Russia

Outline content:
This module on European security prepares undergraduate students intellectually to analyse problems of security in Europe on three levels: the imaginary, i.e. the constructed identity of the "nation-state" with all its emotional and historical baggage of myths; the structural, i.e. that of interstate and intra-state structures of policy making; and the particular, where it examines the security needs and concerns of individual states, groups, and their collective defence through interstate organisations (NATO, EU, OSCE, UN), norms and regimes. In this way, students are to be made aware of the constructedness of identity, the importance of decision-making and implementing structures, and the interplay between domestic, collective and inter-state concerns. The module places strong emphasis on the role of nationalism in European security.

In the first term, the course takes an approach most influenced by social anthropology and historiography. In the second term, the focus will be mainly on decision-making and implementing structures and on the analysis of security problems at the turn of the century. Encouraging students to develop their analytical abilities on several levels, it will lead them to apply them to a selection of case-studies of the security concerns and policies of individual states in Europe.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Seminars which will move, over the two terms, from lecturer-led seminars to student-led seminars, with student oral presentations throughout. Oral presentation skills will be improved through 2-3 such presentations over the two terms, writing skills will be improved through two summative essays, while research skills will be trained in both contexts.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures
Tutorials/seminars	8 x 1.5	8 x 1.5	2 x 1
Practicals
Other contact (eg study visits)
Total hours	12	12	2
Number of essays or assignments	1	1
Other (eg major seminar paper)

Assessment:
Coursework:
Students will write two c3000 word essays on selected topics. Non-submitted essays will be awarded a mark of zero. The overall coursework mark will be an average of the two essay marks. Relative percentage of coursework: 25%
Penalties for late submission: In accordance with University policy a penalty of a reduction of 10 marks to essays which are submitted up to one week after the original deadline, and a zero mark thereafter will be applied.
Examinations: One three-hour examination.
Requirements for a pass: 40% overall and a mark of not less than 35% in the examination.
Reassessment arrangements:
(i) Re-examination in August/September.
(ii) Coursework which already bears a confirmed mark of 40% or more will be carried forward unless a student opts to re-submit this element as well as taking the examination. Any coursework with a mark of less than 40% should be re-submitted. In both cases the deadline for re-submission is 1 August.
Students are allowed to resubmit coursework on the same topic as for a previous attempt, and coursework which had previously been submitted late can be re-submitted for a second attempt. If circumstances warrant it, a single, longer piece of coursework might be set instead of the two normally required. It should also be noted that re-submitted coursework should be resubmitted by e-mail, not on Blackboard.

Visiting Students: Visiting students taking this module who opt not to take the examination will be required to submit a total of 12,000 words written work in accordance with arrangements made by the module convenor.

Last updated: 7 December 2009