Admission requirements
Only students of the MSc Crisis and Security Management can take this course.
Description
The European Union (EU) and its member states have not only committed themselves to building an internal politico-economic integration project, but have also attempted to forge a common approach to its external relations. Indeed, since the 1970s, the EU has increasingly tried to develop a meaningful role and impact in global affairs, particularly in relation to tackling a variety of cross-border challenges of global governance. However, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and in an increasingly geopoliticised international climate of great power rivalry and changing power realignments, the EU and its member states grapple with responding effectively to a wide range of security and defence challenges.
At the same time, pressing threats and global governance challenges, such as climate change, the governance of Artificial Intelligence, the undermining of democracy and human rights and the rise of regional and world-wide conflicts, continue to require effective policy responses by the Europeans. But is the EU, its member states and its partners up to it? What works, what does not work and what needs to be done to strengthen the EU’s and Europeans’ role in security and global affairs?
This course seeks to offer concrete answers to these questions by inviting students to explore the evolution, policies and potentials, successes and failures and concrete ways ahead for the European Union, its member states and its international partners in the realm of security and global affairs. Particular emphasis will be placed on the EU’s inter-organisational relations with other core organisations (esp. the United Nations and NATO) and an analysis of the challenges of advancing global governance solutions in an increasingly geopoliticised international environment.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Understand the historical and current evolution, policies and impact of the EU in Security and Global Affairs and its cooperation with major international organisations in advancing global governance solutions in an increasingly geopoliticised environment;
Analyze the EU’s and the European Union member states’ approaches to security and global affairs;
Critically evaluate and reflect on potential future scenarios for a more impactful role of the European Union and core European member states in core policy fields related to security and global affairs.
Timetable
On the right side of programme front page of the studyguide you will find links to the website and timetables. MyStudymap, uSis and Brightspace.
Mode of Instruction
The course consists of 7 sessions. Classes will be dedicated to (guest) lectures and group discussions. Students are required to participate actively in class discussion, based on extensive reading material. Attendance is mandatory. Students are only allowed to miss more than one lecture if there are special, demonstrable personal circumstances. The Board of Examiners, in consultation with the study advisors, will decide on such an exceptional exemption of mandatory attendance.
Assessment method
The final grade for this course is based on two assignments:
Mid-term Exam
30% of the final grade
Grade can be compensated in case of a fail (grade < 5.50)
Resit not possible
Final Exam
70% of the final grade
Grade cannot be compensated, a 5.50 is required to pass the course
Resit possible
Resit will take the same form
The calculated overall course grade must be at least 5.50 in order to pass the course. If the calculated overall course grade is lower than 5.50, students are also permitted to resit the 70% exam.
Reading list
A selection of books and articles, to be announced on Brightspace.
Registration
Please note, registration for block 4 electives will be organised by the OSC in a different way from the regular course registration for semester 2. More information about this will follow in the beginning of semester 2.
Please note: Registration for the resit of an exam (and exam) is mandatory, this has to be done by the student and can be done from Monday 4 May 2026 until 10 days before the exam. Until 5 days before the exam you can email OSC and fill in a form.
Contact
Prof. dr. J.A. Koops j.a.koops@fgga.leidenuniv.nl