Security Issues of European Integration
Course content
Lecture classes
Theme 1. Security Theory
The concept of “security” in international relations, elements, levels, types of security. Security in the theory of international relations. Security concepts: balance of power, balance of threats, collective security, global security, cooperative security, the theory of a democratic world, the concept of human security. Changing the environment of international security in modern international relations.
Theme 2. Integration Theory
Signs, tasks, main stages, principles, contradictions of integration. Prerequisites for European Integration. Theories of integration: federalism, neofunctionalism, communication theory, intergovernmental approach.
Theme 3. Copenhagen Security School
Theory of sectors. Theory of securitization. The theory of a regional security complex.
Theme 4. European regional security complex
The formation of the European RCB. Cold War Security Issues. Post-Cold War Security Agenda in Western Europe. Security Agenda in Eastern Europe before and after EU accession. European Security Strategy and national security agendas in the 2000s EU security cooperation with Norway, Iceland, Switzerland.
Theme 5. Peripherals of the European Republican Clinical Hospital
The Balkan subcomplex of the European regional security complex: the history of the formation and development of the subcomplex in the XX-XXI centuries. Turkey and its impact on European security. EU external environment: security issues and neighborhood policy: Maghreb and Levant countries, Eastern Europe and Russia. The Ukrainian crisis and the European security system.
Practical lessons
Presentations
Presentation of reports and presentations on European Security Strategies 2003, 2016
An analysis of the Strategies involves identifying EU security problems, mechanisms to neutralize them, and the degree of compliance with the national security agendas of EU members.
The lesson involves a discussion based on the results of the presented report, using the methods of “brainstorming” and case studies.
Debate
During the classes, students participate in debates on pressing issues of ensuring regional security. Preparation for the lesson involves acquaintance of students with scientific and educational literature, as well as documents on the topic of the lesson. As a rule, two students who defend opposing points of view participate in the debate. The debate mechanism involves three steps:
1. Expressing one’s own position,
2. Questions and answers from the opponent,
3. Questions from the audience.
Based on the results of the debate, the audience determines the side whose arguments were more convincing.
Themes of debate:
1. EU integration: pros and cons.
2. Russia and the EU: partners or opponents?
3. US and EU: reliable partnership?
4. Migration to the EU: a threat or a blessing?
Criteria for evaluation:
Knowledge of the content of the course – 50%,
Attendance at practical classes and lectures – 10%,
Activity in practical classes and lectures – 10%,
The quality of work (reports, presentations, analysis of sources, argumentation of one’s own positions) is 30%.