General information meetings on the Thesis Seminar Fall: see tab Information and Deadlines
Theme 101: International Institutions and Security Governance (Dr. M. Kinacioglu)
This thesis seminar is designed to support projects that involve key conceptual foundations, arguments, debates, and contestations related to the International Institutions and Security Governance. The conception of international institutions of this thesis seminar includes multilateral global governance organisations -supranational, intergovernmental, and nongovernmental- involved in the security governance. And the conception of security governance of the seminar encompasses both international and human security. The seminar is designed to help students plan their research, raise theoretically informed questions, and analyse issues related to the role of international actors and processes of decision-making in global security governance; and politics, aspects and outcomes of security governance. Examples include analysing the role of inter-governmental organisations (IGOs); non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations; the role and consequences of the involvement of private actors such as Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs); the interactions between states and an array of non-state actors; and issues and debates related to the role of international organisations in promoting human security. This seminar is open to qualitative explanatory and normative research designs with a critical perspective.
Theme 102: International Security (Dr. J. Michaels)
This thesis seminar will investigate the subfield of International Relations dealing with the threat, use, and control of organized violence to achieve political objectives. It examines several key themes, including a historiography of the field, contested definitions of security, deterrence and nuclear weapons, the evolution of war and armed conflict in the 20th and 21st centuries, strategy, the role of Alliances, international law and the limits on the use of force, and the impact of changing technology and social norms. Students will be introduced to the key academic debates and questions dominating the field and the various qualitative and quantitative approaches that have been used to address them. They will not only gain familiarity with the key theorists and texts that dominate the field but will also be exposed to other critical and non-Western perspectives. The seminar is designed to ensure students are provided with a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the topic in its historical, contemporary and future contexts.
Theme 103: International Politics of the Global South (Dr. M. Amjad)
This thesis seminar aims to understand the intricate dynamics, challenges, and opportunities faced by countries in the Global South. It examines key themes such as foreign policy, regional security architectures, inter- and intra-state conflicts, and the broader geopolitical shifts that influence global affairs, particularly the evolving dynamics of South-South and North-South cooperation. Students will analyze the complex interplay between domestic political landscapes and external pressures in the Global South, addressing issues like governance and state fragility, humanitarian crises, emerging powers, regional integration, peacemaking in proxy conflicts, de-escalation strategies, the art of dialogue and negotiation with state and non-state actors, and the impact of technology on the future of peace and conflict. Through a combination of disciplinary and interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks, this seminar aims to equip students with deep insights and analytical skills essential to write a master’s thesis on issues related to the Global South, while understanding and engaging with the complexities of global affairs in the 21st century. This seminar is open to a variety of research methods, primarily qualitative and quantitative.
Additional Information
Please note that for some seminars there will be no additional substantive readings than the ones discussed in the courses they build on.
Registration
See 'Information and Deadlines'.
Examination
The thesis seminar is composed of a research proposal (first 8 weeks) and a thesis (remaining of the course). The research proposal ensures that the student is on the right track to carry out the research and write the thesis. It must be approved by both readers (see below), but is not awarded a grade. The grade of the thesis corresponds to 100% of the grade of the thesis seminar.
Research Proposal
The research proposal includes a problem statement, theoretical foundation, conceptualization as well as a sound explanation of the methods and techniques for data collection and analysis.The proposal must be approved by the supervisor and a second reader. The second reader will be designated by the Director of Studies. Please note that teachers are not obliged to provide thesis supervision if the proposal is not approved. The research proposal is not graded, it receives only a pass/revise/fail evaluation.
Master Thesis
The MSc thesis needs to comply with high standards of academic research. The formal requirements of the Master thesis are stated on the page ‘Thesis seminar information and deadlines’. The thesis evaluation form with the evaluation criteria will be published on Brightspace.
Students that drop or fail the course have to retake the complete thesis seminar (in the 2nd semester of the next academic year). Students should contact the Exam Committee if they are unable to complete the master thesis by the deadline due to circumstances beyond their control.
Timetable
See 'MyTimetable'