This course reviews recent developments in the use and understanding of violence within contemporary understandings of what security is and how it comes about. It introduces the debates around different understandings of security through the Copenhagen, Paris and Welch ‘schools’ and reviews how the theories of securitization, security bureaucracy and emancipatory security has developed. We also look at more recent research programmes on risk, security technologies, feminist security studies, new materialism in international security, and aesthetic approaches to international relations and security.

Throughout we ask how theories understand contemporary developments in violence and war, with a new case being in focus at each class. We analyze cases from recent conflicts such as the Syrian civil war, the war in Ukraine, international terrorism.

Students are expected to participate actively in analyzing cases and in presenting a theoretical framework of their own choice.

Pakollinen edeltävä opintojakso: POLPOP01 Kansainvälisen politiikan johdantokurssi

Key literature:

- Andersen, R.S., Vuori, J.A. & Guillaume, X., 2015. Chromatology of security: Introducing colours to visual security studies. Security Dialogue, 46(5), pp.440–457.

- Aradau, C. & van Munster, R., 2005. Governing terrorism and the (non)politics of risk. Political Science Publications, 11.

- Aradau, C. & van Munster, R., 2007. Governing Terrorism through Risk: Taking Precautions, (un)Knowing the Future. European Journal of International Relations, 30(1), pp.89–115.

- Bigo, D., 2000. When Two Become One: Internal and External Securitisations in Europe. In International Relations Theory and the Politics of European Integration. London & New York: Routledge, pp. 171–203.

- Bleiker, R., 2001. The Aesthetic Turn in International Political Theory. - Burgess, P.J., 2010. The Routledge handbook of new security studies, London; New York: Routledge.

- Booth, K., 2005. Critical Security Studies And World Politics, Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

- Booth, K., 1998. Statecraft and Security, Cambridge University Press.

- Buzan, B. & Hansen, L., 2009. The Evolution of International Security Studies, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

- Buzan, B., Wæver, O. & de Wilde, J., 1998. Security: A New Framework for Analysis, Boulder CO: Lynne Rienner.

- Collins, A. ed., 2007. Contemporary Security Studies, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

- Guittet, E.-P. & Jeandesboz, 2010. Security Technologies. In P. J. Burgess, ed. The Routledge handbook of new security studies. London; New York: Routledge.

- Huysmans, J., 2006. The Politics of Insecurity. Fear, migration and asylum in the EU, London & New York: Routledge.

- Schouten, P., 2014. Security as controversy: Reassembling security at Amsterdam Airport. Security Dialogue, 45(1), pp.23–42.

- Sharkey, N. & Suchman, L., 2013. Wishful Mnemonics and Autonomous Killing Machines. Proceedings of the AISB, (136), pp.14 – 22.

- Shepherd, L.J. ed., 2013. Critical approaches to security: an introduction to theories and methods, London; New York: Routledge. (chapters on FSS)

- Walters, W., 2014. Drone strikes, dingpolitik and beyond: Furthering the debate on materiality and security. Security Dialogue, 45(2), pp.101–118.

Millennium Journal of International Studies, 30, pp.509–533.

Compulsory preceding studies: POLPOLP01 Introduction to International Relations