SEC8026 Global Security: Politics, Space and Society

• Offered for Year: 2025

• Module Leader(s): Professor Jocelyn Mawdsley and Dr Dimitris Skleparis

• Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

• Capacity limit: 999 student places

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Aims

To provide students with an advanced understanding of the evolution and current state of theory in security studies:

1. To introduce security studies, its key themes and theories.
2. To explore the historical and contemporary themes of security studies.
3. To explore critical approaches to discourses and practices of security.
4. To discuss and critically evaluate the debates that have characterised the development of security studies.

Outline Of Syllabus

Security has been one of the touchstone issues in the last few decades, and one of the most debated topics in many developed and developing states. From wars, terrorism, and organised crime to viruses and climate change, the diverse nature and spread of contemporary threats place security at the heart of human affairs. But what does security mean, and how is it perceived, experienced, practiced, and studied? This module examines security and insecurity from an interdisciplinary perspective with reference to a range of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ threats. It does so by drawing on various traditional/mainstream and critical theoretical approaches to security, as well as Western and non-Western empirical contexts.

Topics to be covered may include:

• Inter- and Intra-state Wars
• Terrorism, Drugs, and Crime
• The Environment and Climate Change
• Policing and Surveillance
• Immigration
• Artificial Intelligence
• Energy
• Food Security

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Upon completion of the module, students will/should be able to:

1. Identify and critically discuss the central themes in the study of security.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of key security studies texts and commentaries, and discuss their contributions.
3. Debate on issues such as what is security and for whom in a variety of interdisciplinary contexts.

Intended Skills Outcomes

On completion of the module, students will/should be able to:

1. Communicate, in written and oral formats, their advanced knowledge of the key theories and themes of security studies.
2. Plan, organise, and structure critical responses to questions around security.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Assessment Methods

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

In writing their research paper, students will be expected to show an ability to collate and evaluate theoretical and empirical material.