Admission requirements
Required course(s):
This course is primarily designed for third-year GED students. However, second-year GED students and second and third-year students from all majors are also welcome. This class demands dedication, discipline, punctuality, and a willingness to engage in insightful discussions and lively debates on human security issues.
Recommended course(s):
Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies
Introduction to Comparative Politcs
Institutions of Governance and Development
Institutions in Time
Description
This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the key ideas, critical academic debates, and policy discussions surrounding human security, with a particular focus on the dynamics of civil wars and violence. We will explore scientific explanations for major human security issues linked to civil wars and violence, including the root causes, consequences, and potential solutions to violence and conflict. Through a blend of theoretical frameworks and real-world case studies, the course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how civil wars impact human security and the strategies for mitigating such threats. Throughout the course, we will examine fundamental questions such as: What is human security, and how does it differ from national security, human development, and human rights? Why are civil wars and violent conflicts so prevalent today, and how do they undermine human security? What are the major causes of civil war and violence? How do civil wars and violence affect the seven dimensions of human security—economic security, food security, health security, environmental security, personal security, community security, and political security? Additionally, we will assess the strengths and weaknesses of current international and local approaches to mitigating the consequences of civil wars and addressing human security issues. The course demystifies these questions by exploring the intersections among academic fields and policy practices, including International Development, Peace and Conflict Studies, Global Politics, and Human Rights and Humanitarian Action. Utilizing a combination of lectures, tutorial discussions, case studies, and interactive group exercises, we will highlight the linkages between theory and practice.
The course is divided into three modules. In the first module, we will lay the intellectual foundations and dive into the key debates surrounding the concept of human security in relation to national security, human development, and human rights. The second module will focus on the major causes of civil war and violence and their effects on human security. In the final module, we will examine innovative approaches to address civil war and violence and their impacts on human security. This course is designed to challenge you intellectually, question your assumptions, ignite your passion, and enhance your critical thinking, reading, writing, speaking, and problem-solving skills. Active participation in discussions and debates is encouraged, fostering a collaborative learning environment to critically analyze and address complex security issues.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
Develop a Thorough Understanding of Human Security: Gain a thorough knowledge of the concept of human security and its distinctions from national security, human development, and human rights.
Analyze the Dynamics of Civil Wars and Violence: Examine the root causes, consequences, and potential solutions to civil wars and violence through scientific and theoretical frameworks.
Evaluate the Impact on Human Security Dimensions: Assess how civil wars and violence affect the seven dimensions of human security, including economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community, and political security.
Critically Assess Policy Approaches: Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of current international and local approaches to mitigating the consequences of civil wars and addressing human security issues.
Improve Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills: Develop critical thinking, reading, writing, speaking, and problem-solving skills through active participation in discussions, debates, tutorial presentations, and interactive group exercises.
Apply Theoretical Knowledge to Real-World Cases: Utilize real-world case studies to bridge the gap between theory and practice, gaining practical insights into addressing human security challenges in conflict and post-conflict settings.
Timetable
Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2024-2025 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.
Mode of instruction
There are two primary teaching methods employed in this course: lectures and tutorials.
Lectures: The instructor will deliver a lecture based on the required reading once a week. Each lecture will offer an overview of the topic designated for that week. Every class will commence with a short question-and-answer session pertaining to the readings or previous lectures. This will be followed by the main lecture content for the day. At the conclusion of each lecture, there will also be a brief opportunity for students to ask questions. Students are encouraged to come prepared, ready to engage with the instructor, peers, and the discussed materials. PowerPoint slides from lectures will be available on Brightspace.
Tutorials: The instructor's lectures, presentations, readings, and in-class debates will be supplemented by tutorials. Tutorials aim to provide a platform for students to share their insights and ideas in a seminar format. Tutorials typically embrace the Socratic method. In this approach, a student presents their findings, and the professor rigorously questions their assumptions, actively involving other students in the discussion. This means that students are expected to have done the required readings BEFORE the tutorial session and to be fully prepared for an extensive discussion on them. Participation in the tutorial will be assessed using specific criteria. Speakers must provide accurate explanations of key concepts and theories using relevant literature. They should apply theories to case studies to highlight issues. Listeners should gain insights from the presentation. The presentation must be clear, logical, and well-organized. The audience should easily follow the line of reasoning. The presentation should be interactive and not just a reading of a paper. It should be paced for audience understanding. Speakers should be comfortable presenting and be audible to everyone. Tutorials will focus on the designated readings and the primary questions noted under the weekly topics. More details are available in the syllabus.
Assessment Method
There are five requirements for this course:
Class Participation: 10%
Tutorial Presentation: 15%
Reflection Paper: 15%
Book Review: 25%
Human Security Expertise Essay: 35%
Reading list
TBA
Registration
Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Dr. Ayokunu Adedokun, a.b.adedokun@luc.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
-