Module Information

Module Identifier
IPM6820
Module Title
Security Policy in the European Union
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Reading List

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Essay  3000 Words  50%
Semester Assessment Policy Report  Provide an in-depth policy report on one of the significant security challenges facing the EU covered in the module. 3000 Words  50%
Supplementary Assessment Essay  3000 Words  50%
Supplementary Assessment Policy Report  3000 Words  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Describe and critically assess differing conceptualisations of Europe's role and 'actorness' in security and defence.

Describe and critically evaluate the changing nature of EU security governance and power.

Identify and investigate the extent to which, and how, the EU is seeking to enhance its 'strategic autonomy' in security and defence policy.

Critically analyse the contending approaches to security and liberty in Europe, and the implications of the nexus between internal and external security.

Demonstrate through written work and seminar discussion an ability to analyse and synthesise the key contemporary security issues in Europe

Brief description

This module provides a comprehensive understanding and analysis of the changing nature of security and defence within the European Union. In particular, it examines key aspects in the development of external and internal security policies within the European Union and their implications for our understanding of the EU as a political and security in Europe and beyond and its relations with key partners. The key themes tying the module together are the nature of EU power and actorness, the blurring of internal and external security, and the balance between security, liberty and justice in EU security policies and practices.

Aims

This module aims to provide a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the key conceptual frameworks associated with the EU in the field of security and defence policy, an in-depth understanding of the EU's ambitions and progress in developing its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), a critical analysis of the EU's approach to range of 'internal security policies, and an understanding of the increasingly intertwined nature of transboundary security challenges.

Content

The course explores the conceptual, political, institutional, civilian and military aspects of the European Union's security and defence policies, and the implications for the nature of EU power and its 'actorness' in international security.

- Introduction to EU security
- Governing European Security
- The EU as a Security ‘actor’
- The Nature of EU ‘power’
- CSDP from St. Malo to the Strategic Compass
- CSDP Missions - Managing Regional Conflict
- EU Counterterrorism in 21st Century
- Fortress Europe? Asylum & Immigration in Europe
- EU Cybersecurity – a Comprehensive Security Actor?
- The EU & Ukraine: Testing EU Security Actorness
- The EU Security Continuum: Blurring Internal-External Divide

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Creative Problem Solving Independent project work and problem solving will be one central goal; the submission of the essay and policy report will require that students develop independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The need to research and prepare for seminars will also enable students to develop independent project skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; reason logically; construct theoretical models

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7