Security and Development: Stages of Analysis and Intervention
Code: 41714 ECTS Credits: 15| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations, Security and Development | OP | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Alessandro Demurtas
- Email:
- alessandro.demurtas@uab.cat
Teachers
- Rafael Grasa Hernández
- Ana Ayuso Pozo
- Maria Claudia Jimenez Franco
- Gabriel Abou-Askar Molina
- Barbara Loreto Diaz Santis
- Sergio Maydeu Olivares
- Blanca Camps Febrer
- Oriol Barba Suñol
- (External) Laia Serra
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
The same requirements for the master's degree are requested. Additional bibliography will be offered by the coordinator to students who request it or to students that, according to the coordinator, need additional help.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The objectives are:
- Become familiar with the approaches, theories, concepts and practical instruments realted to international security, development, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
- Get a deep understanding of the various concepts, theoretical models and methodological and practical instruments existing in the fields of study of security, conflict resolution and development.
- Know and be able to apply and critically evaluate the theory and practice of human development, conflict resolution and human security.
- Acquire the necessary knowledge to prepare intervention proposals on the main aspects related to security, development, peacebuilding and development cooperation policies and strategies.
- Apply the analytical tool of international order to contemporary nuclear security.
The module specifically aims for students to become familiar with:
(a) The general framework of the post-Cold War system, in terms of agenda, actors, concepts, dynamics, and instruments of analysis and intervention, based on the convergence of the security and development agendas.
(b) The main concepts, approaches, policies, strategies and existing instruments in the field of security studies and conflict analysis and conflict resolution methods, with particular emphasis on peacebuilding.
(c) The main concepts, approaches, policies, strategies and existing instruments in the field of development studies and practice and development cooperation, as well as related issues such as trade, environment and human rights.
(d) The main intervention tools and instruments used in development cooperation, conflict analysis, prevention of violent behavior and peacebuilding in general and in a particular region.
Learning Outcomes
- CA05 (Competence) Design guidelines for intervention in matters of security and development, particularly in the context of peace processes and peacebuilding, from different theoretical perspectives.
- CA06 (Competence) To draw up proposals for taking action within the scope of the main aspects of security, development, peacebuilding and cooperation for development policies and strategies.
- CA07 (Competence) To formulate judgements based on information that, though incomplete or limited, includes reflections on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of knowledge and judgements.
- KA04 (Knowledge) To properly integrate relevant concepts, theoretical models and methodological tools from the fields of security, conflict resolution and development into a study.
- KA05 (Knowledge) To recognise security, development, peacebuilding and cooperation for development policies and strategies in relations between two or more international actors.
- SA04 (Skill) To draft reports, scientific articles and proposals for action on specific matters of security and development.
- SA05 (Skill) To critically assess the theory and practice of human development, conflict resolution and human security based on the results of an empirical study on matters of security and/or development.
- SA06 (Skill) To analyse the impact that a country's political system and social structures have on its security and development policies.
Content
General contents of the subject
The module aims to familiarize students with and enable them to use:
(a) The general post-Cold War framework, in terms of agenda, actors, concepts, dynamics and instruments of analysis and intervention, based on the convergence of security and development agendas.
(b) The main concepts, approaches, policies, strategies and instruments in the field of security studies and conflict analysis and resolution methods, with particular emphasis on peace building.
(c) The main concepts, approaches, policies, strategies and instruments existing in the field of development studies and practice and development cooperation, as well as related topics such as trade, environment and human rights.
(d) The main intervention tools and instruments used in development cooperation, conflict analysis, prevention of violent behavior and peace building in general and in a particular region.
During the first semester and complementary to the subject Analysis in International Relations (ARI), students will read the manual by Esther Barbé (2020). Relaciones internacionales, 4th Edition, Madrid, Tecnos. This reading is also essential for the Security and Development module.
In the practical exercise (seminar) on the contemporary international nuclear order, students will apply the approach adopted by Barbé to a specific case study.
Organization in modules of the general contents of the course
Module 1. Conceptual and contextual framework: the post-Cold War framework, agendas, actors, and concepts and instruments in security and development.
Module 2. The security and development agenda from the perspective of North-South relations and from a gender perspective.
Module 3. Instruments and policies of intervention in security and development: security strategies, peacemaking, development cooperation and peace building. Seminar on the contemporary international nuclear order (one session).
Module 4. Development and international development cooperation system and international human rights law: concepts, approaches, policies and strategies, intervention instruments.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Expositions | 75 | 3 | CA05, CA06, CA07, KA04, KA05, SA05, SA06, CA05 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Practical assignments and activities | 112 | 4.48 | CA05, CA06, CA07, KA04, KA05, SA04, SA05, SA06, CA05 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Study activities at home | 188 | 7.52 | CA05, CA07, KA04, KA05, CA05 |
Methodology combines traditional lectures and the use of the academic material available on the virtual campus.
Each class will preferably be dedicated to a specific topic within each block and will have specific readings available to students on the virtual campus.
A presentation or a guide will be offered per module or session/sessions. At least half an hour of each session will be dedicated to commenting on the texts, with scheduled contributions and other spontaneous ones.
Only exceptionally will there be dossiers on paper. All the material will be available in the virtual campus.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistance and participation | 10% | 0 | 0 | CA05, CA06, CA07, KA05, SA05, SA06 |
| Final exam | 40% | 0 | 0 | CA05, CA06, CA07, KA04, KA05, SA04, SA05, SA06 |
| Individual paper on a Seminar topic | 25% | 0 | 0 | CA05, CA06, CA07, KA04, SA04, SA06 |
| Mid-term exam | 25% | 0 | 0 | CA05, CA06, CA07, KA04, KA05, SA04, SA05, SA06 |
The grade, the final responsibility of Professor Demurtas, will consist of:
1. Class attendance and participation: 10% of the final grade
2. Partial exam on the compulsory readings of the module: 25% of the final grade
3. Individual work during a Seminar: 25% of the final grade
4. Individual final exam in class: 40% of the final grade
The individual final exam will include all the mandatory readings and topics covered during the course.
To pass the course, students must take the three compulsory tests/exams and obtain a minimum final grade of 5 out of 10.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
Restricted use. In this course, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed for very limited purposes, such as initial idea generation, initial information search, grammatical and stylistic correction or translations.
The student must indicate which parts of the work have been generated with AI tools, identify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on the role and impact of these technologies in the learning and assessment process.
Failure to disclose the use of AI will be considered a lack of academic integrity and will result in the total loss of the activity grade, or other academic sanctions, as appropriate.
Students are advised to contact faculty prior to making any submissions using AI. The faculty member is solely responsible for establishing whether there has been any misuse of AI.
Bibliography
Teachers will provide all the mandatory and recommended bibliography to the students on the virtual campus.
General books
Ball, Joshua (2019). “What is Security? Everything”. Global Security Review. https://globalsecurityreview.com/what-is-security-everything/
Barbé, Esther (2020). Relaciones internacionales, 4a Edición, Madrid, Tecnos.
Collins, Alan (Ed.) (2019). Contemporary Security Studies. Oxford University Press. 5th edition.
Peter Hough, International Security Studies: Theory and Practice, Routledge, 2020, II ed, 508 pp.
Barry Buzan, Ole Waever, Jaap de Wilde, Security: A New Framework for Analysis, Boulder, Lynne Rienner, 1998.
Johan Galtung, Peace by peaceful means. Peace and Conflict, Development and Civilization, Londres, Sage, 1996 (al menos los apartados I y II y las conclusiones).
Rafael Grasa, Cincuenta años de evolución de la investigación para la paz. Tendencias y propuestas para observar, investigar y actuar, Barcelona, Oficina de Promoció de la Pau i dels Drets Humans (Generalitat de Catalunya), 2010.
Books about conflict resolution
The Arbinger Institute, The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict, Paperback, 2022, IV ed.
Peter Wallensteen, Understanding Conflict Resolution. War, Peace and the Global System, Sage, 2002.
H. Miall, O. Ramsbotham, T. Woodhouse, La resolución de conflictos. La prevención, gestión y transformación de conflictos letales, Barcelona, Bellaterra/ICP, 2011
J. Baylis, J. Wart, E.Cohen, C. S. Gray, Strategy in the Contemporary World. An Introducion to Strategic Studies, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2002.
M. Kaldor, New & Old Wars. Organized Violence in a Global Era, Londres, Polity Press, 1999.
A. Rapoport, Peace, An Idea Whose Time Has Come, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 1992
Books about development and cooperation for development
Kaul, I. (1999) "In search of a new paradigm of international development co-operation", Development, Vol, 42, nº 3.
López, G.A. y Molina de la Torre, I. (2000), Introducción a la solidaridad internacional: La cooperación para el desarrollo, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid.
Preston, P.W. (1997) Development Theory. An Introduction, Blackwell Publishers, Oxford pp.245-246.
Stewart, F. (1999), “Aid in the 21st century: Reconciling the real and the desirable", Development, Vol, 42, nº 3.
Books focused on the capability approach, empowerment, gender and microfinance
Berger, I. (1989) “Giving Women Credit: the strengths and limitations of credit as a tool for alleviating poverty”, World Development, 17(7), pp.1017-1032.
Crocker, D. (1995) “Functioning and Capability: the Foundations of Sen’s and Nussbaum’s Development Ethic, Part 2” a Nussbaum, N. i Glover, J. (eds.) Women, Culture and Development. A study of human capabilities, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.153-198.
Francis, E. (2000) Rural Livelihoods and Gender, mimeo, pp.110-111.
Goetz, A.M. i Sen Gupta, R. (1996) “Who Takes the Credit? Gender, Power, and Control over Loan Use in Rural Credit Programs in Bangladesh” a World Development, 24(1), pp.45-63.
Moser, C. O. (1994) Gender, Planning and Development: Theory, Practice and Training, Routledge, London, capítol 4, pp.55-79.
Sen, A.K. (1999) Development as Freedom, Oxford University Press, Oxford-New York.
Sen, A.K. (1995a) Nuevo examen de la desigualdad, Alianza Editorial, Madrid.
Sen, A.K. (1990a) “Development as Capability Expansion” a K. Griffin i Knoghts, J. (eds.) Human Development and the International Strategy for the 1990s, MacMillan, London.
Sen, A.K. (1990b), “Gender and cooperative conflicts” a Tinker, I. (ed.) Persistent Inequalities. Women and World Development.
Sen, A.K. (1990c), “Justicia: medios contra libertades”, a Sen, A.K. (1998) Bienestar, Justicia y mercado, Paidós / ICE UAB, Barcelona.
Sen, A.K. (1985) “El bienestar, la condición de ser agente y la libertad. Conferencias ‘Dewey’ de 1984”, a Sen, A.K. (1998) Bienestar, Justicia y mercado, Paidós / ICE UAB, Barcelona.
Software
Classes are between 4 and 8 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, between October and the first part of January.
The professor publishes the definitive calendar during September on Aula Moodle.
Class schedule
OCTOBER
1. Alessandro Demurtas: introduction to the course, explanation of the teaching guide, the contents and the evaluation system; introduction to the concept of security - Tuesday 7 [3 hours]
2. Alessandro Demurtas: the evolution of the concepts of security, peace and armed conflict in the post-Cold War - Tuesday 14 [3 hours]
3. Alessandro Demurtas: the evolution of the concept of development in the post-Cold War - Tuesday 21 [3 hours]
4. Alessandro Demurtas: the contemporary international nuclear order: explanation of the practical exercise - Tuesday 28 [3 hours]
NOVEMBER
5. Gebrael Abu Askar Molina: the fifth generation hybrid war. Case study: Aniran – Tuesday 4 [3 hours]
6. Alessandro Demurtas: partial exam in class (25% of the grade) – Wednesday 12 [3 hours]
7. Laia Serra: development and environment – Tuesday 18 [4 hours]
8. Laia Serra: safety and environment – Thursday 20 [4 hours]
9. Laia Serra: role-playing game – Tuesday 25 [4 hours]
10. Laia Serra: Case analysis: loss of biodiversity and climate change + closure and resolution of doubts – Thursday 27 [4 hours]
DECEMBER
11. Rafael Grasa: conflicts and direct violence – Tuesday 2 [4 hours]
12. Sergio Maydeu: formulation of Spanish development cooperation projects. Case studies: Honduras, Guatemala and Ecuador – Wednesday 3 [3 hours]
13. Alessandro Demurtas practical exercise on the contemporary international nuclear order (25% of the note) – Thursday 11 [3 hours]
14. Oriol Barba: the strategic planning of Spanish development cooperation – Friday 12 [4 hours]
15. Blanca Camps: gender and security – Wednesday 17 [4 hours]
16. Blanca Camps: gender and development – Thursday 18 [4 hours]
JANUARY
17. B delsrbara Díaz: international protection of human rights – Tuesday 13 [4 hours]
18. Anna Ayuso: development cooperation – Wednesday 14 [4 hours]
19. Anna Ayuso - Claudia Jiménez: development cooperation, world trade and WTO – Thursday 15 [4 hours]
20. Anna Ayuso - Claudia Jiménez: development cooperation, CPI – Tuesday 20 [4 hours]
21. Alessandro Demurtas: final exam in class, 40% of the grade - Thursday 22 [3 hours]
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TEm) Theory (master) | 1 | Spanish | first semester | afternoon |