Admission requirements
Students must be enrolled in the CSM Master program;
At least 8 students must enroll for the course to take place;
A maximum of 35 students can participate, on a first come, first serve basis.
Description
Emotions play an increasingly important role in world politics and international security studies. In recent years, emotions and passions have thus become of growing interest and relevance to a number of disciplines concerned with security. This course is designed to introduce students to this evolution and the complex relations between emotions, passions and security in general. Indeed, in spite of renewed attention, the way the affective domain interacts with security and securitisation remains unclear, little conceptualised and falling outside many existing approaches.
In particular, the tendency to discuss emotions and passions but reject their status has often left theory incoherent and vulnerable. New hypotheses must thus be explored in order to highlight the processes through which individual emotions become collective and political. Critical definitions can emerge in this respect, as well as a better appreciation of the significance of emotions and how they permeate most security matters.
The purpose of this course is to familiarise students with theoretical approaches and empirical cases delineating several key questions. It is based on interdisciplinarity, a rich literature, and real-world situations to help them develop their own evaluation. Students will become acquainted with the methods of comparative analysis in the field of security and approach a multiplicity of issues and cases meant to widen their reflection on security.
Course objectives
- Students will be able to theorise the relations between emotions, passions and security.
- They will be able to critically discuss different theories and concepts connected to the affective dimensions of security.
- They will be able to use the methods of comparative analyses to assess applicable real-world situations.
- Finally, they will be able to analyse readings with a critical eye and highlight issues, questions, and concerns that they have about each author’s arguments and the evidence presented in support of their claims.
Timetable
On the right side of CSM front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Blackboard.
Mode of instruction
The course consists of 7 sessions.
Participation in lectures, discussions and exercises is required in order to obtain a grade. One lecture may be missed. Being absent more than once may likely lead to expulsion from the course.
Course Load
5 EC = 140 hours:
contact hours: 21
self-study hours: 119
Assessment method
Midterm Critical Review (40%)
The midterm critical review is a written exam that comprises 40% of the students’ final grade.
Final Research Paper (60%)
The final research paper is a longer essay that comprises 60% of their final grade.
Compensation rule: Only assessments with a weight of 30% and lower can be compensated. This means that one does not have to pass an assessment if it weighs 30% or less in order to pass the course. The average of all assessments combined must be at least a 5.5. In addition, assignments with a weight of 30% and lower are not resitable, meaning that if one failed an assessment weighing 30% or less, one is not allowed to resit it and that assessment must be compensated by the other assessment(s). The resit takes the same form.
Blackboard
The corresponding Blackboard course will become available one week prior to the first session.
Reading list
See syllabus.
Registration
Use both uSis and Blackboard to register for every course.
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 in uSis is possible from four weeks before the start of the course.
Contact
Dr. M.B.D. Benraad m.b.d.benraad@fgga.leidenuniv.nl
Institute of Security and Global Affairs (Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs)
Office hours: end of each session of the course.