PO3CRS: Critical Security Studies

Module code: PO3CRS

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Andreas Behnke, email: a.behnke@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module provides an introduction to the rapidly expanding and evolving subject field of Critical Security Studies. It provides the students with the conceptual and theoretical tools to critically examine recent developments within domestic as well as international security issues and to study relevant processes through which particular actors or practices are constructed as ‘security issues’ and subjected to ‘exceptional’ strategies.  

In the second part, the module introduces students to the study of ‘politics of identity’, focusing on the relational construction of identities within popular media such as films. Combining two classical texts of Critical International Relations with two films that reflect the topics of these texts, students are encouraged to analyse the latter from a critical perspective.  

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to critically reflect upon the basic theoretical assumptions underlying different definitions of security
2. Analyse and evaluate the role of culture and identity in international security, the critical role of sovereignty and security in the creation of political order, and the problems involved in the securitisation of new areas, such as migration, economy and environment
3. Appreciate the way in which different conceptions of the Political underlie prevailing approaches to security

Module content

What is ‘security’? Why do we consider it to be a central issue for both domestic and international politics? How do different theoretical, political, and cultural contexts influence our understandings of this concept? This module provides an introduction into increasingly influential field of Critical Security Studies. It is made up of two parts. Part I presents an overview over the theoretical and philosophical arguments in support of a critical investigation of the basic assumptions underlying often taken-for-granted definitions of security. In particular, module will examine the securitisation of referent objects of security such as the state, the environment, and social and cultural identities such as ‘Muslim’ or ‘terrorists’. 

Part II of the module will introduce students to the critical analysis of securitisations in popular culture. This part will include the viewing of two films, each one of which presents or problematizes specific cultural aspects of security. The films will be the background against which we will discuss the social construction of national identities, the ‘othering’ of cultural identities, and the legitimation of violence on behalf of such identities. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Two one-hour lectures, introducing the main topics of the two seminar parts, and 10 x two-hour seminar classes requiring preparatory reading, oral presentations and written essays, requiring independent study. Two seminars will be dedicated to film screenings. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Feedback will be offered on the student presentations in the seminars.  

Reassessment

Additional costs