Further information
Security of the state and approaches to security research
Educational goals:
- to explain the concept of (state) security, its development, content and understanding in the branch of security studies;
- to introduce the genesis of the mentioned branch;
- to outline the contemporary dominating approach to security research.
Contents:
Security is not the subject of theoretical research only, but it is also a key term of the security policy. In the traditional understanding the security concept can be understood as a synonym for survival or maintenance of existence of the state. This relatively narrow concept is now obsolete, because the range to reference objects extends as well as the scale of threats. Security is also a central subject of interest of security studies. This branch is established during the second half of the 20th century and during its development has gone through various stages, which were focused on various aspects of security and its achievements. Currently, the field of security studies focused on security research in a much broader sense than it did in the past, when security was identified with the external military security of the state. The dominant conceptualization of contemporary security studies is represented by so-called Copenhagen school.
List of tasks for students:
To study the following information sources.
References and further reading:
Presentation (lecture):
Security of the state and approaches to security research
Compulsory readings:
1. SUCHÝ, Petr. Role of Security and Strategic Studies Within International Relations Studies. Obrana a strategie [online]. 2003, no. 2 [cit. 2014-04-16]. Available from: http://www.defenceandstrategy.eu/en/previous-issues/volume-2003/2-2003/role-of-security-and-strategic-studies-within-international-relations-studies.html#.U04x7qLSad0
Additional readings:
1. Critical Approaches to Security in Europe. Security Dialogue [online]. 2006, no. 4 [cit. 2014-04-05]. Available from: http://www.eui.eu/Personal/Researchers/bueger/Documents/Case%20manifesto%20as%20published.pdf