Admission requirements
Only students of the MSc Crisis and Security Management, enrolled in the specialisation ‘Governance of Radicalism, Extremism and Terrorism’, can take this course.
Description
The aim of this course is to familiarise students with the governance of extremism and terrorism and the complexities arising in countering/preventing violent extremism and counterterrorism. Taking this combined perspective enables students to analyse the benefits and risks of various counterterrorism and P/CVE policies and tactics and the challenges of the underlying decision-making. Students are encouraged to adopt a critical attitude and be aware of dilemmas and unintended consequences that can arise from counterterrorism and P/CVE policies and practices. Academic/analytical frameworks are applied to understand how terrorism and counterterrorism respond to each other and evolve to create new challenges. An understanding of decision-making dilemmas and risks of negative consequences help students to analyse issues related to terrorism, counterterrorism, and P/CVE and the multifaceted policy challenges in today’s complex and ever-changing world.
An array of historical and contemporary examples and data are used to illustrate the challenges of counterterrorism and P/CVE. For example, targeted strikes against terrorists can immediately reduce group capabilities but can also trigger radicalisation in affected communities potentially leading to long-term negative consequences.
Research skill: Analysis
Students learn and practice analysis skills in this course.
Course Objectives
After finalising this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand and critically analyse various concepts of terrorism & political violence;
2. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of research methodologies and theoretical expectations that can be used to analyse and reconstruct real-world terrorism & political violence cases to propose better future responses;
3. Describe and appraise different analysis methods and tools;
4. Analyse and interpret data at an inferential level of analysis;
5. Identify, construct and test scientific frameworks and discuss their implications for analyzing cases of terrorism & political violence;
6. Apply theories to cases to analyse from a specified perspective;
7. Collaborate in a team to produce knowledge by confronting contrasting viewpoints and develop workable solutions;
8. Discuss research outcomes in various formats and for academic and professional audiences;
9. Self-evaluate and reflect after interactive in-class work and individual assignments.
Timetable
On the right side of programme front page of the studyguide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Brightspace.
Mode of Instruction
A combination of interactive lectures and activating workgroups (two sessions per week). In the lectures, students will learn the key principles of research, and the relevant concepts and methodologies. In the workgroups, students will practise research design and methods by applying the concepts, testing theories, and analysing empirical material. The workgroups will, amongst others, consist of in-class assignments, team performances, and exercises that feature compulsory formative (non-graded) assignments that will help the student prepare for the summative (graded) assignments.
Attendance is mandatory. Students are only allowed to miss a maximum of two sessions 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.
10 EC = 280 hours
Contact hours = 42 hours
Self-study hours = 238 hours
In this 10 ects course, we will focus on the research skill assignment that is going to be part of your portfolio. Specific information on the portfolio assignment and the intended learning outcomes that are being acquired will be published in the syllabus of this course.
Assessment method
Assessment for this course is based on three assignments:
Midterm
30% of final grade
Grade can be compensated in case of a fail (grade < 5.50)
Resit not possible
Workgroup
20% of final grade
Grade cannot be compensated in case of a fail (grade < 5.50)
Resit not possible
Final exam
50% of final grade
a 5.50 is required to pass the course
Resit is possible
Resit will take the same form
Additional, formative (non-graded) assignments are an obligatory part of the course.
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 50% final exam.
Attendance is mandatory. Students are only allowed to miss a maximum of two sessions 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.
In the case of written assessment methods, the examiner can always initiate a follow-up conversation with the student to establish whether the learning objectives have been met.
Transitional arrangement
Please be aware that passed partial grades obtained in academic year 2025-2026 are no longer valid during academic year 2026-2027.
Reading list
A selection of books and articles, to be announced on Brightspace.
Registration
Register yourself via MyStudymap for each course, workgroup and exam (not all courses have workgroups and/or exams).
Do so on time, before the start of the course; some courses and workgroups have limited spaces. You can view your personal schedule in MyTimetable after logging in.
Registration for this course is possible from Wednesday 10 December 2025, 13:00 h.
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.
Leiden University uses Brightspace as its online learning management system. After enrolment for the course in MyStudymap you will be automatically enrolled in the Brightspace environment of this course.
More information on registration via MyStudymap can be found on this page.
Contact
All communication should be directed to course coordinator dr. Graig R. Klein.
Please send your email to g.r.e.klein@fgga.leidenuniv.nl