Private Security in the Public Domain
Description
The provision of security is traditionally seen as a public monopoly. Nowadays however private parties are increasingly engaged in the provision of security. Some speak therefore of the ‘nodalization of security’ in which the state is just one of the providers of security. Students of security therefore cannot overlook the importance of this new phenomenon. From a governance perspective new important questions and dilemma’s can be discerned from this shift towards nodal security and the changing relationships between public and private security. What can the public security sector learn from its private partners in terms of innovation, efficiency and efficacy? Further, what are the implications for democratic accountability, the upholding of civil rights and other governance issues surrounding the emergence of hybrid forms of security provisions? Students will get acquainted with the multitude of private security actors, ranging from corporate security to security guards, private intelligence, private military companies and security consultants. By studying relevant theoretical insights and research papers students will get familiar with the theoretical debate concerning the privatization of security and main empirical findings.
Course objectives
The main goals of the course are:
To provide students with skills which help them to analyze the complex and ever-changing relationship between public and private security.
To provide students with theoretical notions and practical examples in order to better understand the essence of the privatization of security.
To present and critique various theoretical approaches to understand the factors that contributes to this phenomenon.
To challenge students to develop their own analysis of the privatization of security by writing a paper on specific issues related to the changing relationship between public and private security.
Timetable
Tuesday 30-10-2012 10:00 13:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Tuesday 6-11-2012 10:00 13:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Tuesday 13-11-2012 10:00 13:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Tuesday 20-11-2012 10:00 13:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Tuesday 27-11-2012 10:00 13:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Tuesday 4-12-2012 10:00 13:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Tuesday 11-12-2012 10:00 13:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Mode of instruction
The 7 sessions are dedicated to lectures and discussion.
Assessment method
Students will be asked to write a policy paper in which academic insights concerning the governance of public and private security form the foundation of a well-structured and well-reasoned advice regarding an actual example of privatization of security. Further, students are expected to work on three small mid term assignment.
Students will be evaluated as follows:
Quality of three small mid term assignment equaling 30% of total grade.
Quality of the final policy paper. Equals 70% of total grade.
Literature
To be announced
Blackboard
Instructor uses Blackboard.
Registration
Via USIS
Contact information
Prof. dr. Edwn Bakker
e.bakker@cdh.leidenuniv.nl
Drs. Jelle van Buuren
g.m.van.buuren@cdh.leidenuniv.nl: g.m.van.buuren@cdh.leidenuniv.nl