Studiegids

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Global Security

Vak
2026-2027

Exchange students: please note that this course has content overlap with International Security and cannot be taken in combination with it

Description

This course is an undergraduate survey of the theoretical foundations of security studies and contemporary issues in international security. Building on the first-year Introduction to International Relations, the course introduces students to general theories, concepts and debates in the subfield, and applies them to a set of more specific topics in present-day global security. The aim is to enable students to think in a more theoretically rigorous and analytic manner about security issues and understand their relation to the broader field of International Relations.

Course objectives

Objective 1: Enable students to think critically beyond state-centered conceptions of security.
Objective 2: Locate the study of global security within a broader historical and political context.

Schedule

The timetables are available through MyTimetable (see the button in the upper right corner).

Teaching method

Lectures

Assessment method

Final exam consisting of 50% multiple-choice questions and 50% open questions

Resit, review & feedback

The time and location of inspection and debriefing of the exam will be announced via Brightspace no later than the publication of the grades.

Reading list

  • Textbook: Williams, Paul D., and Matt McDonald. 2023. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th ed. New York: Routledge. ISBN 9781032162737. Paperback and e-text both acceptable.

All relevant information (syllabus, additional readings etc.) can be found on Brightspace one week before the start of the course.

Registration

General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website (https://www.student.universiteitleiden.nl/en/your-study-programme/courses-and-exams/enrolment/social-and-behavioural-sciences/international-relations-and-organisations-bsc?cd=international-relations-and-organisations-bsc&cf=social-and-behavioural-sciences#tab-1).

Contact

For substantive questions, contact the lecturer(s) (listed in the right information bar).  For questions about enrolment, contact the Student Services Centre: ssc@leiden.edu.