PC4S031 - European Union Security 31 Jul 2020 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PC4S031
Module Title: European Union Security
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Policing and Criminology
Faculty Sub Group: Policing
Module Leader: Christian Kaunert, Helen Martin
Module Team: Ori Wertman, Mike Edwards
First Intended Intake: SEP 2019 Final Year of Intake: 2024
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100486 - policing
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 31 Jul 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

Develop a critical knowledge of the development, functioning and influences of European security, its institutions, decision-making and negotiations.

Facilitate a masterly level of comprehension of the major concepts, issues and policies that define contemporary debates about European Security and how politics are sponsoring widespread social restructuring.

Content Summary

Theoretical approaches to the study of security:

Contemporary debates in security studies (Realism, Liberalism, the Neo-neo-debate, constructivism, critical security studies.)

The European security environment:

· The European Union in the World

· NATO

· The United Nations

· Other regional organisations

The EU as an actor in International Relations

· Institutional framework of EU action

· Europeanisation of foreign policy

· Common Foreign and Security Policy

· The EU’s Area of Freedom, Security and Justice

· EU enlargement and its neighbourhood policy

· EU and other regions in the world

New security challenges in European security:

· Terrorism

· Transnational organised crime and piracy

· Migration, refugees and borders

· Energy security

· Environmental security

· The privatisation of security

· The spread of weapons of mass destruction

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 12
Seminar 12
Independent Study 80
Directed Study 95
Formative Assessment - Independent 1
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically analyse the dynamic factors and considerations that influence European security.
LO2 Through critical research and synthesis, appraise foreign policy agendas and offer informed opinions on their relevance and suitability in a rapidly globalising world.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Essay relating to the major concepts, issues and policies that define contemporary debates about European Security and how politics are sponsoring widespread social restructuring 0 3500 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Kaunert, C. and K. Zwolski (2013): The EU as a Global Security Actor – a comprehensive analysis beyond CFSP and JHA (with K. Zwolski), (Basingstoke: Palgrave; Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics).

Kaunert, C. (2010), European Internal Security – Towards Supranational Governance in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, Manchester: Manchester University Press

Kaunert, C. and S. Leonard (2013): European Security, Terrorism, and Intelligence, (Basingstoke: Palgrave; Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics series)

De Vries, C. (2018). Euroscepticism and the Future of European Integration. Oxford: OUP

Pollack, M. (2015). Theorizing EU Policy-Making. In Wallace et al. (Eds). (2015). Policy-making in the European Union. Oxford: OUP.

Supplementary Reading:

Buzan, B. et al. (1998) Security: A New Framework for Analysis. Boulder, CO; London: Lynne Rienner.

Baylis, J. and S. Smith (2016), eds, The Globalization of World Politics. An Introduction to International Relations, 7th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Collins, A. (2014), ed., Contemporary Security Studies. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Pres.

Simon, L. (2014). Geopolitical Change, Grand Strategy and European Security. Palgrave.