International Security and Global Governance

MSc International Security and Global Governance

Full-Time Programme

Notions of international security and their relationship to structures of global governance are being redefined in response to a huge – and sometimes contradictory – array of forces in world politics. The spread of terrorism, threats to economic security, wars over natural resources, nuclear proliferation – these and other highly contested phenomena have prompted a re-evaluation of how societies can best adapt to conflict and uncertainty, both across and within national boundaries.

This degree will provide the analytical tools required to examine security issues in their broad socio-historical context, linked to research on organised violence, security, political authority, global governance and international relations. The degree's two compulsory core courses (see below) will examine the changing nature of war, violence and security, and their relationship with both state and society. By furnishing an historical understanding of the evolution of global military, political and economic forces – and the ideas that shaped them – the degree will assist students in developing the capacity to analyse critically both contemporary policy debates and theses surrounding the nature of change in the structures for governing the international security system.

Objectives

Students completing the course will be able to:

• Apply critically the main concepts, theories and methods used in the study of international security and global governance;
• Demonstrate substantive knowledge of debates on the functioning of the international system and how they impinge on international security and global governance;
• Locate and analyse both qualitative and quantitative data on international security and global governance from both printed and electronic sources; and
• Undertake an independent research project.

In addition, students will develop skills of policy analysis, expository writing and oral communication, via the discussion and evaluation of theories, histories and policies on issues related to international security and global governance. The course will develop students' ability to obtain and analyse information from a wide array of sources, and the ability to distil complex qualitative arguments in order to use or contest such findings in the context of policy advocacy.