Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
2SBU518International Conflicts and Security Policies3+0+03701.01.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Master's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and International Relations (Non-Thesis)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The objective of this course is to have students understand the context of security. Various perspectives on security and varieties of conflict will be scrutinized to understand the how the context of security has been transforming. In this context, this course aims to enhance students’ skills for the following objectives:
• Understand security concepts,
• Recognize the complexity of security and its transformation,
• Develop skills to think critically, systematically and comparatively about emerging security concepts and practices,
• Evaluate different approaches and models to interpret security conceptualization,
• Examine contemporary security readings.
Course Content The course will cover a wide range of themes those appear to be what the changing nature of the security from hard to soft contextualization. This is an introductory course to the multidisciplinary conceptualization of security. This course introduces the fundamental concepts, theoretical frameworks and practical applications of security. The course is designed to introduce students to academic thinking about security readings in various contexts. Students will get familiar with the transformation of the concepts, key theorists and important debates within the field. Practical applications of the knowledge that is produced in the field and major securitization approaches will be briefly introduced. The course will also discuss the relevance and practical utility of the concepts and processes within different real-life contexts.
The course is organized along three parts; the first part will introduce students the key concepts of the field, security theories. The second part will introduce the hard security context within varying units of analysis. The third part will focus on the soft security by the emerging threat and risk types.
Course Methods and Techniques Lecture, discussion-based lecture.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Associate Prof.Dr. Murat Aslan https://profil.hku.edu.tr/akademik/murat-aslan/ murat.aslan@hku.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Barry Buzan & Lene Hansen (2009), The Evolution of International Security Studies, Cambridge University Press.
Course Notes The course will cover a wide range of themes those appear to be what the changing nature of the security from hard to soft contextualization. This is an introductory course to the multidisciplinary conceptualization of security. This course introduces the fundamental concepts, theoretical frameworks and practical applications of security. The course is designed to introduce students to academic thinking about security readings in various contexts. Students will get familiar with the transformation of the concepts, key theorists and important debates within the field. Practical applications of the knowledge that is produced in the field and major securitization approaches will be briefly introduced. The course will also discuss the relevance and practical utility of the concepts and processes within different real-life contexts.
The course is organized along three parts; the first part will introduce students the key concepts of the field, security theories. The second part will introduce the hard security context within varying units of analysis. The third part will focus on the soft security by the emerging threat and risk types.

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
2
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 15 3 45
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 15 3 45
Assignments 4 1 4
Presentation 12 3 36
Mid-terms 1 10 10
Final examination 1 10 10
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 5 150

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to realize PY-1 Fundamental Concepts and Theories, PY-4 Multi-disciplinary study, PY-5 Independent study, PY-6 Assume responsibility. In this sense, this course aims to realize the following outcomes: • Build interdisciplinary conceptual understanding of security. • Compare and contrast main theories and currents of thinking in the field of (de)securitization conceptualizations. • Conduct thorough assessment of securitizations with required parameters. • Link theory to practice by examining different case studies from the international arena. • Assess the complex the dynamics of contemporary security. • Critically evaluate competing theoretical approaches and practical methods securitizations and its failures.
3 CLO-1 Fundamental Concepts and Theories, CLO-4 Multi-disciplinary study, CLO-5 Independent study, CLO-6 Assume responsibility.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Introduction to the course (discussion of the syllabus and course requirements), Understanding the security concept.
2 Roots and Frame of Security John Baylis and Steve Smith, Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), pp. 51-91. (MUST READING) Arends, J. Frederik M., “From Homer to Hobbes and Beyond – Aspects of ‘Security’ in the European Tradition”, Brauch (et.al), Globalization and Environmental Challenges Reconceptualizing Security in the 21st Century, pp. 263-278.
3 Security Conceptualization in International Relations John Baylis and Steve Smith, Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), pp. 91-110. (MUST READING) Baylis, John, “The Concept of Security in International relations”, Hans Günter Brauch (et.al), Globalization and Environmental Challenges Reconceptualizing Security in the 21st Century (New York: Springer, 2008), pp. 27-44. David A. Baldwin, “The Concept of Security”, Review of International Studies (1997), 23, 5-26.
4 Re-conceptualization of Security after the Cold War John Baylis and Steve Smith, Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), pp. 110-140. (MUST READING) Brauch, Hans Günter, “Introduction: Globalization and Environmental Challenges: Reconceptualizing Security in the 21st Century”, Brauch (et.al), Globalization and Environmental Challenges Reconceptualizing Security in the 21st Century, pp. 27-44 and
5 Security Dilemma H Ali Bilgiç, “Güvenlik İkilemini Yeniden Düşünmek: Güvenlik Çalışmalarında Yeni Bir Perspektif,” in Mustafa Aydın et al. (eds), Uluslararası İlişkilerde Çatışmadan Güvenliğe Seçme Makaleler, pp. 337-352.
6 Militarization of Security Buzan, Barry, “The Changing Agenda of Military Security,” Brauch (et.al), Globalization and Environmental Challenges Reconceptualizing Security in the 21st Century, pp. 553-560.
7 Societal Security Ole Wæver, “The Changing Agenda of Societal Security,” Brauch (et.al), Globalization and Environmental Challenges Reconceptualizing Security in the 21st Century, pp. 581-594. Aydın, Mustafa ve Açıkmeşe, Sinem, “İslam Örneğinde Küreselleşen Dünyada Kimliğe Dayalı Güvenlik Tehditleri”, Uluslararası İlişkiler, Cilt 5, Sayı 18 (Yaz 2008), s. 197-214.
8 midterm exam Be prepared to draft an academic essay. If you are not aware of what academic essay is, please visit: https://weblearn.ox.ac.uk/access/content/group/159bc1ca-0c7b-454c-8aad-c6c711affc04/Documents/acadwrit2013.pdf . The evaluation criteria are attached to the end of this syllabus
9 Human and Humanity Security A. Şevket Ovalı, “Ütopya ile Pratik Arasında: Uluslararası İlişkilerde İnsan Güvenliği Kavramsallaştırması,” in Mustafa Aydın et al. (eds), Uluslararası İlişkilerde Çatışmadan Güvenliğe Seçme Makaleler, ss. 281-307.
10 Security and Environmental Concerns Simon Dalby, “Security and Environment Linkages Revisited”, Brauch (et.al), Globalization and Environmental Challenges Reconceptualizing Security in the 21st Century, pp, 165-172.
11 War and Conflict Fulya Ereker, “İlkçağlardan Günümüze Haklı Savaş Kavramı,” in Mustafa Aydın et al. (eds), Uluslararası İlişkilerde Çatışmadan Güvenliğe Seçme Makaleler, ss. 45-72. Muzaffer Ercan Yılmaz, “Westphalia’dan Günümüze Savaş,” in Mustafa Aydın et al. (eds), Uluslararası İlişkilerde Çatışmadan Güvenliğe Seçme Makaleler, ss. 75-86.
12 War, Conflict, and Terrorism: Westphalia and Afterwards Falk, R. (2007). War and Peace in an Age of Terror and State Terrorism. Uluslararası İlişkiler Dergisi , Özel Sayı: Savaş , 1-15 . Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/uidergisi/issue/39256/462272 Talal Asad, “Thinking about Terrorism and Just War”, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Volume 23, Number 1, March 2010, pp. 3-24.
13 Security Policies in/of Turkey Murat Aslan. “Türkiye’nin Savunma Stratejileri ve Politikaları”, Ferhat Pirinççi and Murat Yeşiltaş, Savunma Politikalarına Giriş (Istanbul: SETA Kitapları, Nisan 2021). Murat Aslan. “Türkiye: Yükselen Bölgesel Oyuncu”, Murat Yeşiltaş and Rıfat Öncel (eds) Ortadoğu’da Güvenlik, Savunma ve Silahlanma (Istanbul: SETA Kitapları, Aralık 2020). Murat Aslan. “Post Corona Prospects: Turkey’s Foreign Policy Case”, Olivia Todercan and George Scutaru (eds.) Lumae De Maine (Bucharest: NSC, 2020).
14 Security Policies in/of Turkey Murat Aslan. “Türkiye'de Güvenlik Algısının Kavramsal ve Pragmatik Dönüşümü: Modern Dönemlerin Karşılaştırılması”, Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences, 2022 21(3) 1647-1666. Murat Aslan. “Türkiye’nin Savunma Stratejileri ve Politikaları”, Ferhat Pirinççi and Murat Yeşiltaş, Savunma Politikalarına Giriş (Istanbul: SETA Kitapları, Nisan 2021). Murat Aslan. “Türkiye: Yükselen Bölgesel Oyuncu”, Murat Yeşiltaş and Rıfat Öncel (eds) Ortadoğu’da Güvenlik, Savunma ve Silahlanma (Istanbul: SETA Kitapları, Aralık 2020). Murat Aslan. “Post Corona Prospects: Turkey’s Foreign Policy Case”, Olivia Todercan and George Scutaru (eds.) Lumae De Maine (Bucharest: NSC, 2020).
15 DEBATE ON NEW SECURITY SITUATIONS/ CONCERNS STUDENTS WILL PRESENT THEIR PAPERS.
16 FINAL EXAM

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11
All 3 1 1 2
C1 2 2 1 1
C3

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant