Prospectus

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Law and Security

Course
2021-2022

Admission requirements

Mandatory course for students enrolled in the bachelor’s programme Security Studies.

This course is also open for inbound exchange students. Exchange students must be admitted by the FGGA International Office prior to the start of the course; priority will be given to direct exchange partners of FGGA. For more information about the application procedure for exchange students, please contact the FGGA International Office at international@fgga.leidenuniv.nl.

Description

Security and (international) law are interlinked. Terrorism, cyberattacks, military interventions, cross border criminality - all entail a reaction by states and have the potential to redefine the relationship between government and society. In addition, new technological breakthroughs enable security measures to become more refined and commonplace, but also lead to ethical questions. The rule of law offers a framework in which citizens and government can agree on rules, so that government can play its role legitimately and predictably. The central theme in this course is the dilemma that government faces more often: the dichotomy between providing security while respecting civil, social and human rights. Since the 9/11 attacks, this tension has become even more visible in both international and domestic counterterrorism measures. Are these necessary measures that have to be taken even by democratic countries where the rule of law is maintained? What kind of consequences these measures can have on the way democratic rule of law works in principle? This tension is also visible in many other security issues, such as for example the “regular” fight against criminality. What about ethnic profiling, the right of free speech, even if this speech is inflammatory, the use of special surveillance techniques? This course will highlight these and other dilemmas, and will offer theoretical and practical insights into them. Students will become familiar with the primary tenants of the rule of law, and their link with security policies. They will be invited to think critically about the tension between security and law.

Course objectives

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Identify the central tension between security and law in a theoretical as well as empirical
    way.

  • Identify the relationship between the citizen and the state within a historical perspective,
    and analyse it critically. Particular attention will be given to security issues and the
    implications for the rule of law.

  • Produce knowledge on the basis and the functioning of European states, as different
    examples on the exercise of rule of law.

  • Analyse a concrete example of the dilemma between providing security and respecting
    human rights, providing a policy advice on this example.

  • Reflect on relevant normative and ethical issues, and on side effects and unintended consequences of the governance and management of crisis and security issues, within the framework of democracy and the rule of law.

  • Access, communicate and apply legal knowledge through in class debates and simulation, in order to develop presentation and writing skills.

  • Self-evaluate and reflect after interactive in-class work and individual assignments.

Timetable

On the right side of programme front page of the e-guides you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Brightspace.

Mode of instruction

7 plenary lectures
4 course labs in smaller groups

Attendance of the course labs is mandatory. If you miss more than 1 course lab you fail the course and won’t obtain a final grade.

Total study load of 140 hours:

  • Lectures and course labs: 33

  • Self-study hours (including assignment): 104

  • Examination: 3

Assessment method

Participation in course labs

  • 10% of final grade

  • Grade must be compensated

  • Resit not possible

Written Assignment

  • 20% of final grade

  • Grade must be compensated

  • Resit not possible.

Written exam

  • 70% of final grade

  • Grade must be 5.50 or higher

  • Resit of a fail is possible.

  • Resit will take the same form

Students will also be permitted to resit the written exam (70%) if they have a calculated overall course grade lower than 5.50.

Transitional Arrangement
Passed partial grades obtained in year 2020-2021 remain valid during year 2021-2022. Students who did not meet the course lab attendance requirements in 2020-2021 are required to attend the course labs in 2021-2022.

Reading list

A selection of books and articles will be announced on Brightspace.

Registration

Register for every course and workgroup via uSis. Some courses and workgroups have a limited number of participants, so register on time (before the course starts). In uSis you can access your personal schedule and view your results. Registration for courses and workgroups in uSis is possible from 15 July, 13.00h.

Leiden University uses Brightspace as its online learning management system. After enrolment for the course in uSis you will be automatically enrolled in the Brightspace environment of this course

Access to Brightspace is necessary because the syllabus and other information about this course can be found here. Furthermore, announcements and modifications will be communicated via Brightspace. Students have the responsibility to stay informed and are thus advised to regularly check Brightspace for updates.

Contact

dr. Silvia D’Amato- s.damato@fgga.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks

For exceptions, please contact the Board of Examiners.