American University (2012)
School of International Service
Human and Global Security – SIS619:001 – Classroom Watkins G12
Fall 2012 – Mondays 5:30-8:00

Prof. Randolph .B. Persaud
Phone – 202-885-1757; email – persaud@american.edu

Course Description: This course examines new developments in security studies, and new ways of thinking about security. While many of the issues we will engage have been around for a long time, their gravity has been more sharply felt since the end of the bi-polar world order and a deepening economic crisis within Western societies. We will do the following things in this course: (1) consider ways of thinking about security other than through the national security framework; (2) work towards an understanding of non-military threats (3) examine the intersection of globalization and new forms of security provision (such as private security); (4) analyze the relationships among identity, nationalism and the social construction of security (5) analyze the problems of legitimacy in humanitarian intervention, (6) analyze United nations Peacekeeping Efforts.
Learning Outcomes – Students will acquire significant knowledge about the some of the key debates and disputes in security studies. After the course, students will be able to demonstrate sound theoretical knowledge of the subject matter and should be able to apply this knowledge to policy assessment and policy formulation. Finally, students would be able to formulate interesting research questions (based on the theoretical and empirical material) for purposes of future research.
Course Texts
David Campbell, Writing Security: United States Foreign Policy and the Politics of Identity. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Susan Rice et al., (eds), Confronting Poverty: Weak States and U.S. National Security. Washington, D.C. Brookings Press, 2010.
Joshua Goldstein, Winning the War on War: The Decline of Armed Conflict Worldwide. Plume, 2012.

Highly Recommended
Alan Collins, Contemporary Security Studies. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Paul D. Williams, (ed.) Security Studies: An Introduction: New York: Routledge, 2008..
S. Tadjbakhsh and A.M. Chenoy, Human Security: Concepts and Implications, London: Routledge, 2007
Roland Dannreuther, International Security: The Contemporary Agenda. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2007.
John Gray, False Dawn, New York: The New Press, 1998.

Some Key Journals
Security Dialogue International Security Foreign Affairs
Arms Control Review of Int. Studies Millennium
International Interactions Int. Studies Review Jour. of Conflict Res.
International Organization Alternatives Latin Am. Pol. & Society
Third World Quarterly Foreign Policy World Politics
Pacific Review International Journal Development Dialogue
Jour. Modern African Studies, Human Development Report Security Studies
European Jour. of Int. Rel. Jour. of Strategic Studies NACLA
Journal of Peace Research Race and Class Soc. & Eco Studies

Assignments and Grading

Assignment Date Length Value
Short paper, October 1, 20%
Short paper, October 20, 20%
Term Paper, December 04, 20%
Exam, 20%
Participation, 20%

Academic Integrity Code
All students are governed by American University’s Academic Integrity Code. The Academic Integrity Code details specific violations of ethical conduct that relate to academic integrity. By registering, you have acknowledged your awareness of the Academic Integrity Code, and you are obliged to become familiar with your rights and responsibilities as defined by the code. All of your work (whether oral or written) in this class is governed by the provisions of the Academic Integrity Code. Academic violations include but are not limited to: plagiarism, inappropriate collaboration, dishonesty in examinations whether in class or take-home, dishonesty in papers, work done for one course and submitted to another, deliberate falsification of data, interference with other students’ work, and copyright violations. The adjudication process and possible penalties are listed in American University’s Academic Integrity Code booklet, which is also available on the American University website. Being a member of this academic community entitles each of us to a wide degree of freedom and the pursuit of scholarly interests; with that freedom, however, comes a responsibility to uphold the high ethical standards of scholarly conduct.

Aug. 27 – Discussion of syllabus, assignments, expectations, and grading.

Sept 10 – What is Security?
John Mearsheimer, The False Promise of International Institutions, International Security, Vol. 19, No. 3, Winter 199495, pp. 5-49.

Recommended
Kenneth Waltz, “Structuralism after the Cold War,” International Security, Vol. 25, No. 1 Summer 2000, pp.5-41.
David A. Baldwin, “The Concept of Security,” Review of International Studies, 23, 5-26, 1997.
Charles A. Kupchan and Clifford A Kupchan, International Security, “The Promise of Collective Security,” Vol. 20, No. 1, Summer 1995, pp. 52-61.

Sep. 17 – Challenge and Change: Human Security Concepts
Keith Krause and M.C. Williams, “Broadening the Agenda of Security Studies: Politics and Methods,” Mershon International Studies Review, Vol. 40, 1996, pp. 229-254.
Amitav Acharya, “Human Security: East Versus West,” International Journal, Vol. 56, No. 3, 2001, pp. 442-460.

Recommended
Matt McDonald, “Human Security and the Construction of Security,” Global Society, Vol. 16, No. 3, 2002.
Sadako Ogata, “Empowering People for Human Security,” Presentation to 56th Annual DPI/NGO Conference.
Paul M. Evans, “Human Security and East Asia: In the Beginning,” Journal of East Asian Studies, Vol. 4, 2002, pp. 263-284.
Sep 24 – Human Security, Development, and Human Rights
Sorpong Peou, The UN, Peacekeeping, and Collective Human Security: From An For Peace to the Brahimi Report,” in Edward Newman and A. Schnabel, (eds.) Recovering from Civil Conflict: Reconciliation, Peace, and Development. London: Frank Kass, 2002, pp. 51-68. Caroline Thomas, Global Governance, development and human security: exploring the links,” Third World Quarterly, 22:2, 2001, 159-75.

Recommended
C. Sommaruga, “The global challenge of human security,” Foresight: The Jour. of Future Studies, Strategic Thinking and Policy,” 6, 4, 2004.

Oct. 01 – Debating Security/Human Security
Roland Paris, “Human Security: Paradigm Shift or Hot Air,” International Security, 26:2, Fall 2001, 87-102.
N. Thomas and W.T. Tow, “”The Utility of Human Security: Sovereignty and Humanitarian Intervention,” Security Dialogue, 33:2, 2002, 177-92.
A.J. Bellamy and M. McDonald, “”The Utility of Human Security’: Which Humans? What Security? A Reply to Thomas and Tow,” Security Dialogue, 33:3, 2002, 373-377.
Recommended
Edward Newman, “Critical Human Security Studies,” Review of International Studies, (2010), 36, pp. 77-94

Oct. 08 – Poverty, Weak States, and Security I
Susan Rice, “The National Security Implications of Global Poverty,” Confronting Poverty, Ch. 1
Susan Rice, “Poverty and State Weakness,” Confronting Poverty, Ch. 2
C. Graff, “Poverty, Development and Violent Extremism,” Confronting Poverty, Ch. 3.

Recommended
A. Loomis, “Poverty, State Weakness and Civil War,” Confronting Poverty, Ch. 4

Oct. 15 – Poverty, Weak States and Security II
J. Busby, “Feeding Insecurity? Poverty, Weak States, and Climate Change,” in Confronting Poverty, Ch. 5
M. Estrin and C. Malm, “State Weakness and Infectious Diseases,” Confronting Poverty, Ch. 6
C. Pascual and C. Graff, “Conclusion and Policy Implications,” in Confronting Poverty, Ch. 7

Oct. 22 – Multilateralism and International Security I – The Role of the UN
Joshua S. Goldstein, Winning the War on War: The Decline of Armed Conflict Worldwide. Ch. 1-6.

Recommended
P.W. Singer, “Outsourcing War in Iraq,” Foreign Affairs, March/April, 2005, 119-132.
Congress of the United States (110th Congress), Report on Blackwater, Oct. 1, 2007.

Oct 29 – Multilateralism and International Security II – Peacekeeping
Joshua S. Goldstein, Winning the War On war. Chs. 7-12.

Recommended
W. Andy Knight and Randolph B. Persaud, “Subsidarity, Regional Governance, and Caribbean Security,” Latin American Politics and Society, Vol. 43, No. 1, Spring 2001, pp. 29-56.

Nov 05– Security and the Politics of Identity I
David Campbell, Writing Security. Introduction and Chs. 1-5.

Nov 12– Security and the Politics of Identity II
David Campbell, Writing Security. Ch. 6-8 and Epilogue.

Nov. 19- Humanitarian Intervention
Gregory Reichberg and Henrik Syse, “Humanitarian Intervention: A Case of Offensive Force,”Security Dialogue, Vol. 33, No. 3.
Mohammed Ayoob, “Third World Perspectives on Humanitarian Intervention and International Administration,” Global Governance, 10, 2004.

Recommended
John Orme, “The Utility of Force in a World of Scarcity,” International Security, 22:3, Winter 1997-98, 138-67.

Nov. 26 – Class Debate on Security and Exam review

Dec 03 – Exam – In Class.