IR652 Security and Strategy
IR652 Security and Strategy
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 course is a PhD-level seminar that focuses on the recent scholarship in international security as an area of theoretical interest and practical concern. The course aims to prepare students for theoretically informed explorations of theoretical and policy questions in security studies. The first part of the course will focus on an in-depth review of the major theoretical perspectives in security studies including the Copenhagen School, the Aberystwyth School, Feminist Approaches, and Democratic Peace Theory. In the second part, the course will focus on regional organizations as well as “nontraditional” security issues such as terrorism, civil wars, irregular migrations, the pros and cons of Private Military Security Companies (PMSCs), biological threats, and energy security. Both classical and contemporary works will be examined to provide students with an appropriate historical and theoretical background in international security.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Williams, P. and McDonald, M., eds. (2023). Security Studies: An Introduction (4th Edition). New York: Routledge
Additional Literature
Fearon, J. (1995). “Rationalist explanations for war,” International Organization, Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 379-414. Evans, G. and Sahnoun, M. (2002). "The Responsibility to Protect." Foreign Affairs, pp. 99-110. Adamson, F. B. (2006). "Crossing Borders: International Migration and National Security." International Security, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 165–199. de Groot, T. and Regilme, S. (2022). "Private Military and Security Companies and The Militarization of Humanitarianism." Journal of Developing Societies, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 50-80. Mulaj, K. (2007). " Ethnic Cleansing and the Provision of In/Security." Security Dialogue, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 335–356. Kidd, A. and Walter, B. (2006). "The Strategies of Terrorism," International Security, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 49-80.Teaching Methods
Lectures
Robust class discussion
Video clips
Final paper
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction/Syllabus distribution and other formal business | No readings |
| 2 | A brief overview of academic subfield of Security Studies | Williams and McDonald, ed., Introduction |
| 3 | Earlier Theories of Security | Williams and McDonald, ed., Intro, Chs 1-2 |
| 4 | Critical and Constructivist Security Approaches | Williams and McDonald, ed., Ch. 3 |
| 5 | QUIZ 1 & Feminist and Post-Structuralist Approaches to Security | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 4-8 |
| 6 | Spreading insecurity: Uncertainty and War | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 9,10,12; Fearon (1995) |
| 7 | More Recent Theoretical Developments: "The Responsibility to Protect" Doctrine | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 15-16; Evans and Sahnoun (2002) |
| 8 | Mid-Term Exam (Covering Week 1-7) | No new readings; Review for exam |
| 9 | Regional Organizations and the United Nations | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 18-20 |
| 10 | Nuclear Disarmament and Private Security Companies | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 21-23; de Groot, T. and Regilme, S. (2022). |
| 11 | Genocide and Ethnic Conflict | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 24-25; Mulaj (2007) |
| 12 | The Recent Migration Crisis and Global Security | Williams and McDonald, ed., Ch. 33; Adamson (2006). |
| 13 | The Global War on Terror and Security | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 26-28; Kidd and Walter (2006) |
| 14 | Contemporary Issues: Energy Security w/ Prof. Novikau leading discussion | Williams and McDonald, ed., Ch. 34; TBA |
| 15 | QUIZ 2 (Covering Week 9-14) | No new readings; Work on Papers |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR652.1 | 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 [IR652] 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 | |||||||||
| IR652 | Security and Strategy | 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 course is a PhD-level seminar that focuses on the recent scholarship in international security as an area of theoretical interest and practical concern. The course aims to prepare students for theoretically informed explorations of theoretical and policy questions in security studies. The first part of the course will focus on an in-depth review of the major theoretical perspectives in security studies including the Copenhagen School, the Aberystwyth School, Feminist Approaches, and Democratic Peace Theory. In the second part, the course will focus on regional organizations as well as “nontraditional” security issues such as terrorism, civil wars, irregular migrations, the pros and cons of Private Military Security Companies (PMSCs), biological threats, and energy security. Both classical and contemporary works will be examined to provide students with an appropriate historical and theoretical background in international security. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Williams, P. and McDonald, M., eds. (2023). Security Studies: An Introduction (4th Edition). New York: Routledge | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| 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 | Introduction/Syllabus distribution and other formal business | No readings | ||||||||
| Week 2 | A brief overview of academic subfield of Security Studies | Williams and McDonald, ed., Introduction | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Earlier Theories of Security | Williams and McDonald, ed., Intro, Chs 1-2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Critical and Constructivist Security Approaches | Williams and McDonald, ed., Ch. 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | QUIZ 1 & Feminist and Post-Structuralist Approaches to Security | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 4-8 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Spreading insecurity: Uncertainty and War | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 9,10,12; Fearon (1995) | ||||||||
| Week 7 | More Recent Theoretical Developments: "The Responsibility to Protect" Doctrine | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 15-16; Evans and Sahnoun (2002) | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-Term Exam (Covering Week 1-7) | No new readings; Review for exam | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Regional Organizations and the United Nations | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 18-20 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Nuclear Disarmament and Private Security Companies | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 21-23; de Groot, T. and Regilme, S. (2022). | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Genocide and Ethnic Conflict | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 24-25; Mulaj (2007) | ||||||||
| Week 12 | The Recent Migration Crisis and Global Security | Williams and McDonald, ed., Ch. 33; Adamson (2006). | ||||||||
| Week 13 | The Global War on Terror and Security | Williams and McDonald, ed., Chs. 26-28; Kidd and Walter (2006) | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Contemporary Issues: Energy Security w/ Prof. Novikau leading discussion | Williams and McDonald, ed., Ch. 34; TBA | ||||||||
| Week 15 | QUIZ 2 (Covering Week 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: 19/05/2026 | |||||||||