INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE - 2025/6

Module Overview

The module expands and develops upon the key issues in international security and defence. Beginning by providing a background to the study of security and defence, the module introduces theoretical perspectives into contemporary themes in security and defence, as well as their inter-relation. The module also examines various security and defence actors ranging from international, regional and sub-regional organisations to NGOs and private military companies. Through readings from diverse scholarly and cultural backgrounds, individual and group work, and in-class simulations, students actively and critically engage with issues including, but not limited to, humanitarian intervention, nuclear deterrence, the role of gender in conflict, and African peace and security architecture.

Module provider

Politics & International Relations

Module Leader

CHAPPELL Laura (Politics IR)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

An indicative list of topics is as follows:  

• Introduction: What do we mean by security? 


• The study and causes of war – an overview of the theoretical landscape in security and defence and the weaknesses and strengths of the various approaches 


• The role of the UN, NATO, the EU and ECOWAS in security and defence 


• Gendering security and defence 


• An assessment of non-state actors, in particular the impact of NGOs and private-military companies in the security field. 


• Defence reform in the post-Cold War era 


• Nuclear deterrence in the post-Cold War context 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to enable students to develop the knowledge, skills and critical thinking to be able to engage with international security and defence through applying theory to real situations. The assessment pattern enables students to analyse and critique  the key theoretical and practical topics in international security and defence in more depth and to make evident their ability to conduct research and construct a reasoned argument. Hence, the assessment strategy is closely aligned to the module aims and learning outcomes as specified above. 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of: 

• Essay 1 (2000 words) 


• Essay 2 (3000 words) 

Module aims

• Provide students with an opportunity to consider, critically analyse and debate a range of key issues in international security and defence in the contemporary context.
• Develop an appreciation and critical understanding of complexity that surround issues in international security and defence, and draw insight from diverse perspectives within international relations scholarship to critically investigate them.
• Develop skills in researching fast-moving contemporary issues in international security and defence by using not only academic resources but also periodicals, databases, newspapers, and official documents.
• Develop critical debating and argumentation skills, as well as gain presentation experience, through which students will learn from peer feedback.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Ensure that students are well prepared for class by providing the key literature which connects with the core debates. 


• Encourage students to contribute to discussions from their own background and experiences, which will help students develop their own judgement and opinions. These discussions will cover a range of techniques such as class and small group discussions, debates, and simulations. Furthermore, students will use digital tools such as MS Teams channels to collaborate and develop their ideas and outputs, as well as video recording and streaming platforms. Develop students’ interpersonal communication skills through student presentations as well as through seminar discussions. 


• Ensure that all students connect with not only the topic that is being discussed, but also with the international classroom environment formed of students with diverse backgrounds.  


• Build and understanding on how to utilise key analytical arguments to explain/understand the topic at hand. 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: POLM016

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.