Admission requirements
This course is part of the minor Security, Safety and Justice, taught at The Hague by a lecturer from Leiden University. The course can only be taken within the framework of participation in the minor SSJ.
Description
Security issues are on the political agenda around the world. The academic world also has several (sub)disciplines that study crises, conflicts, disasters and threats (amongst others political sciences, integrated security studies, conflict studies, public administration, and police & threat studies). The subject concerns phenomena which are not easy to research: attacks or big security incidents do not happen every day, and when they do there are often political sensitivities, and documents interesting for research are often classified.
This course offers an overview of different kinds of research that are possible in the field of crisis and security management, and analyzes different obstacles, dilemmas and challenges that can be encountered when researching these phenomena. At the same time, the necessity of this kind of policy oriented research is highlighted. The course gives an overview of disciplines and types of research, and looks at how to compose a research proposal. After that, a number of guest lecturers by (security-)researchers are scheduled, and they will talk about the dilemmas they regularly encounter. Research subjects that can be looked at are: the functioning of security services, cyber security, putting terrorists on trial, ethics and security, and crisis communication.
Course objectives
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
Identify the different problems and opportunities regarding the research on crisis and security management.
Present and criticize different research designs within the field
Reproduce the most current research methods within the field
Write a research proposal regarding crisis and security management
Timetable
Schedule 2019 to be announced.
The timetable will be displayed with a link on the website and on the front page of this minor programma.
Mode of instruction
The course consists of seven classes.
Course Load
The total study load for this course is 140 hours, consisting of:
contact hours: 14
self study: 126
Assessment method
Students are expected to actively participate in class.
Students are expected to hand in an assignment very week, except for the first week. This concerns a short answer (maximum 300 words) of a statement that was introduced in the previous class. Students are expected to give an argued opinion on that statement/dilemma. These assignments together form 15% of the final grade. The assignments are graded on originality, scientific base and writing style.
Students are expected to write a group paper (5%), present it (5%) and comment on the paper of others (5%).
Students are expected to write an individual research proposal of maximum 12 pages. More explanation will be given via Blackboard. This counts for 70% of the final grade.
Participation in lectures, discussions and exercises is required in order to obtain a grade. Student presence and participation is required and all assignments/exercises have to be fulfilled (though not necessarily passed, see below). For each missed lecture, an assignment will be given to compensate.
Compensation is allowed for the weekly assignments, group paper, presentation, and comments. The individual research proposal cannot be compensated, so a minimum of 5.5 is expected to pass, as well as an overall passing grade.
Retakes consist of rewriting the original individual research proposal.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used. The corresponding Blackboard course will be made available at least a week before the start of the first class.
Reading list
Will be made available via Blackboard.
Registration
TBA
Contact
Drs. Daan Weggemans
Institute of Security and Global Affairs
Wijnhaven building
Turfmarkt 99
2511 DP Den Haag
Room 4.51
E-mail: D.J. Weggemans
Remarks
All sessions will be in English.
Group assignments and individual paper need to be written in English.
Lectures take place at The Hague and are mandatory (see also: assessment).