IR520 International Security
IR520 International Security
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on May 05, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Joseph Jon Kaminski
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This introductory MA-level seminar surveys major debates in international security as both a theoretical field and a set of real-world policy problems. The course equips students with the conceptual tools needed to analyze security issues using core IR frameworks and to evaluate competing explanations of conflict and cooperation. The first part of the course introduces the main theoretical approaches in security studies, while the course’s second part applies these perspectives to various selected institutions, alliances, and contemporary security challenges. The readings used in this course aim to provide MA students with a solid foundation for further graduate study. Students will be expected to produce a 12–15-page final seminar paper at the end of the course.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
David A Baldwin, ‘The Concept of Security’ (1997) 23(1) Review of International Studies 5–26. Stephen M Walt, ‘The Renaissance of Security Studies’ (1991) 35(2) International Studies Quarterly 211–239. Alexander Wendt, ‘Anarchy is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics’ (1992) 46(2) International Organization 391–425. Ken Booth, ‘Security and Emancipation’ (1991) 17(4) Review of International Studies 313–326. Thierry Balzacq, ‘The Three Faces of Securitization: Political Agency, Audience and Context’ (2005) 11(2) European Journal of International Relations 171–201. John J Mearsheimer, ‘Back to the Future: Instability in Europe After the Cold War’ (1990) 15(1) International Security 5–56. Alex J Bellamy, ‘Whither the Responsibility to Protect? Humanitarian Intervention and the 2005 World Summit’ (2006) 20(2) Ethics & International Affairs 143–169. Glenn H Snyder, ‘Alliance Theory: A Neorealist First Cut’ (1990) 44(1) Journal of International Affairs 103–123. Deborah Avant, ‘The Privatization of Security and Change in the Control of Force’ (2004) 5(2) International Studies Perspectives 153–157. David Luban, ‘A Theory of Crimes Against Humanity’ (2004) 29(1) Yale Journal of International Law 85–167. Jef Huysmans, ‘The European Union and the Securitization of Migration’ (2000) 38(5) JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 751–777. Andrew H Kydd and Barbara F Walter, ‘The Strategies of Terrorism’ (2006) 31(1) International Security 49–80.
Additional Literature
NoneTeaching Methods
Lectures
Robust class discussion
Video clips
Final paper
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [24.2] Introduction/Syllabus distribution and other formal business | No readings |
| 2 | [3.3] Engaging with the key question; What is Security? | Baldwin, 5–26. |
| 3 | [10.3] Introducing Traditional Theories of Security | Walt, 211–239. |
| 4 | [17.3] Moving on to Constructivist and Critical Approaches to Security | Wendt, 391–425; Booth, 313–326. |
| 5 | [24.3] QUIZ 1 & Introducing the notion of Securitization | Balzacq, 171–201. |
| 6 | [31.3] Great Power Rivalries and their Impact on Security | Mearsheimer, 5–56. |
| 7 | [7.4] "The Responsibility to Protect" Doctrine and its Relation to Human Security | Bellamy, 143–169. |
| 8 | Mid-Term Exam (Covering Weeks 1-7) | No new readings; Review for exam |
| 9 | [21.4] Institutions and Security Alliances | Snyder, 103–123. |
| 10 | [28.4] Private Security Companies | Avant, 153–157. |
| 11 | [5.5] A Closer look at Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity | Luban, 85–167. |
| 12 | [12.5] The Securitization of Migrants and Refugees | Huysmans, 751–777. |
| 13 | [19.5] Transnational Terrorism and Insurgency | Kydd and Walter, 49–80. |
| 14 | [26.5] A Closer Look at Energy Security w/ Prof. Novikau | None |
| 15 | [2.6] QUIZ 2 (Covering Weeks 9-14) | No new readings; Work on Papers |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR520.1 | Course | Tuesday 17:00 - 19:50 | B F1.1 FBA Graduate Seminar Room | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 14:00 | B F1.33 | |
| Tuesday | 14:00 - 17:00 | B F1.33 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Quiz 1
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Quiz 2
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3
Discussion Leader
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 4
Attendance
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
39 hours ⏳ (13 week × 3 h)
Home Study
60 hours ⏳ (15 week × 4 h)
Final Paper preparation
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Midterm exam preparation
10 hours ⏳ (1 week × 10 h)
Discussion Leader Week
3 hours ⏳ (1 week × 3 h)
Quiz 1 preparation
5 hours ⏳ (1 week × 5 h)
Quiz 2 preparation
5 hours ⏳ (1 week × 5 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR520] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on May 05, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR520 | International Security | 3 | 0 | 6 | T 1700-1950/ Room B F1.1 (Graduate Seminar Room) | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Joseph Jon Kaminski | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-14:00 Tuesday: 14:00-17:00 |
|||||||
| jkaminski@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This introductory MA-level seminar surveys major debates in international security as both a theoretical field and a set of real-world policy problems. The course equips students with the conceptual tools needed to analyze security issues using core IR frameworks and to evaluate competing explanations of conflict and cooperation. The first part of the course introduces the main theoretical approaches in security studies, while the course’s second part applies these perspectives to various selected institutions, alliances, and contemporary security challenges. The readings used in this course aim to provide MA students with a solid foundation for further graduate study. Students will be expected to produce a 12–15-page final seminar paper at the end of the course. | |||||||||
| Textbook | David A Baldwin, ‘The Concept of Security’ (1997) 23(1) Review of International Studies 5–26. Stephen M Walt, ‘The Renaissance of Security Studies’ (1991) 35(2) International Studies Quarterly 211–239. Alexander Wendt, ‘Anarchy is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics’ (1992) 46(2) International Organization 391–425. Ken Booth, ‘Security and Emancipation’ (1991) 17(4) Review of International Studies 313–326. Thierry Balzacq, ‘The Three Faces of Securitization: Political Agency, Audience and Context’ (2005) 11(2) European Journal of International Relations 171–201. John J Mearsheimer, ‘Back to the Future: Instability in Europe After the Cold War’ (1990) 15(1) International Security 5–56. Alex J Bellamy, ‘Whither the Responsibility to Protect? Humanitarian Intervention and the 2005 World Summit’ (2006) 20(2) Ethics & International Affairs 143–169. Glenn H Snyder, ‘Alliance Theory: A Neorealist First Cut’ (1990) 44(1) Journal of International Affairs 103–123. Deborah Avant, ‘The Privatization of Security and Change in the Control of Force’ (2004) 5(2) International Studies Perspectives 153–157. David Luban, ‘A Theory of Crimes Against Humanity’ (2004) 29(1) Yale Journal of International Law 85–167. Jef Huysmans, ‘The European Union and the Securitization of Migration’ (2000) 38(5) JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 751–777. Andrew H Kydd and Barbara F Walter, ‘The Strategies of Terrorism’ (2006) 31(1) International Security 49–80. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures, robust class discussion, video clips, final paper | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | [24.2] Introduction/Syllabus distribution and other formal business | No readings | ||||||||
| Week 2 | [3.3] Engaging with the key question; What is Security? | Baldwin, 5–26. | ||||||||
| Week 3 | [10.3] Introducing Traditional Theories of Security | Walt, 211–239. | ||||||||
| Week 4 | [17.3] Moving on to Constructivist and Critical Approaches to Security | Wendt, 391–425; Booth, 313–326. | ||||||||
| Week 5 | [24.3] QUIZ 1 & Introducing the notion of Securitization | Balzacq, 171–201. | ||||||||
| Week 6 | [31.3] Great Power Rivalries and their Impact on Security | Mearsheimer, 5–56. | ||||||||
| Week 7 | [7.4] "The Responsibility to Protect" Doctrine and its Relation to Human Security | Bellamy, 143–169. | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-Term Exam (Covering Weeks 1-7) | No new readings; Review for exam | ||||||||
| Week 9 | [21.4] Institutions and Security Alliances | Snyder, 103–123. | ||||||||
| Week 10 | [28.4] Private Security Companies | Avant, 153–157. | ||||||||
| Week 11 | [5.5] A Closer look at Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity | Luban, 85–167. | ||||||||
| Week 12 | [12.5] The Securitization of Migrants and Refugees | Huysmans, 751–777. | ||||||||
| Week 13 | [19.5] Transnational Terrorism and Insurgency | Kydd and Walter, 49–80. | ||||||||
| Week 14 | [26.5] A Closer Look at Energy Security w/ Prof. Novikau | None | ||||||||
| Week 15 | [2.6] QUIZ 2 (Covering Weeks 9-14) | No new readings; Work on Papers | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Paper | 1 | 30 | 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 30 | 1, 2 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz 1 | 1 | 15 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz 2 | 1 | 15 | 3 | Not Allowed | |
| Discussion Leader | 1 | 5 | 1, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Attendance | 1 | 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 13 | 39 | Home Study | 4 | 15 | 60 | |||
| Final Paper preparation | 2 | 14 | 28 | Midterm exam preparation | 10 | 1 | 10 | |||
| Discussion Leader Week | 3 | 1 | 3 | Quiz 1 preparation | 5 | 1 | 5 | |||
| Quiz 2 preparation | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | ||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 15/05/2026 | |||||||||