Notes on the lectures from the course (2023) Global Security. INCLUDES notes from lectures 1-13
(Total: 42 pages).
Global Security Lecture Notes (Lectures 1-13)
Table of Contents
Lecture 1: What is Global Security 1
Lecture 2: Anarchy, Uncertainty & War 3
Lecture 3: Alliances, Coercion & Diplomacy 7
Lecture 4: Foreign Military Interventions 10
Lecture 5: Counterterrorism & Military Technology 13
Lecture 6: Civil War 17
Lecture 7: Insurgency & Counterinsurgency (COIN) 19
Lecture 8: The War in Ukraine 23
Lecture 9: Gender Dimensions of Peace & Security 25
Lecture 10: Peacebuilding & its Critics 30
Lecture 11: Climate Change & Human Security 34
Lecture 12: Russian Information & Cyber War 38
Lecture 13: Review 40
, 1
Lecture 1: What is Global Security
Reading Questions
1. What is international security?
● International security refers to the study of threats and challenges that affect the security
of the international system as a whole. This includes issues such as war and conflict,
terrorism, nuclear proliferation, global pandemics, climate change, and economic
instability. International security is concerned with understanding the causes and
consequences of these threats and developing strategies to prevent or mitigate them.
2. In your view, what are the most important threats to international security, and why?
● Examples of threats to international security. Some of the most significant threats to
international security today include terrorism and violent extremism, state aggression and
conflict, cyber attacks, climate change and environmental degradation, and nuclear
proliferation. These threats are complex, interconnected, and require global cooperation
and coordination to effectively address.
3. In what ways is the evolution of the field of security studies linked to events in international history
and politics?
● The evolution of the field of security studies is closely linked to events in international
history and politics. The development of security studies as a field of academic inquiry was
largely driven by the events of World War II and the Cold War, which highlighted the need
for a more systematic and rigorous approach to understanding security threats and
developing strategies to manage them. Since then, the field has continued to evolve in
response to changing global dynamics, including the rise of non-state actors, the
emergence of new security threats, and the changing balance of power in the
international system. As such, security studies is deeply intertwined with broader debates
in international relations and political science, and is shaped by ongoing developments in
global politics and policy.
Key Concepts
● Security: Contested concept, measuring the absence of threats to acquired values (objective), or
the absence of fear that such values will be attacked (subjective).
● Referent Object: Who is being referred to when talking about security, influencing how security is
thought about (e.g., state → national interest, individual/ethnic group/society). Various referent
objects are NOT necessarily independent of one another.
● Deterrence: Practice of restraining a nation-state from taking unwanted actions, such as an armed
attack.
1. Defining Security
Security: Contested concept, measuring the absence of threats to acquired values (objective), or the
absence of fear that such values will be attacked (subjective).
➔ 2 ways of thinking:
◆ “Survival” Model: Freedom from life-threatening threats (safe from harm).
◆ “Survival-Plus” Model: Freedom to have life choices (quality of life/choices).
➔ Referent Object: Who is being referred to when talking about security, influencing how
security is thought about (e.g., state → national interest, individual/ethnic group/society).
Various referent objects are NOT necessarily independent of one another.
➔ Buzan’s key dimensions of security (helps categorisation):
◆ Military = offensive/defensive capabilities & consequences.
◆ Political = stability of states, their systems of government.
◆ Economic = resources & welfare.
, 2
◆ Social sustainability = maintenance of traditions/customs.
◆ Environmental sustainability = maintenance of the local/planetary biosphere.
DEFINING SECURITY What is the source of the security threat?
(SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT)
Military Military, Nonmilitary, Both
Security States National security (conventional Redefined security (e.g.,
for realist approach). environmental, economic).
whom?
Societies, Intrastate security (e.g., civil war, Human security (e.g., environmental
Groups, ethnic conflict, democide). & economic threats to society’s
Individuals survival).
2. How can security be achieved?
Many perspectives on security differ across countries, ages, political views.
➔ Safety can be the most dangerous way to live, NO way to achieve absolute security (e.g.,
security dilemma, trade wars).
3. Security Studies as a Field of Inquiry
The Golden Age (1950-60):
● WWI&II → civilian contributions to the study of strategy + long-term strategy to avoid war.
● National interest = security (war between superpowers) > welfare.
● Nuclear revolution → seminal research on deterrence, containment, coercion, escalation,
arms control + belief in deductive, rational thinking.
End of the Golden Age (1960-70):
● Traditional approaches limits:
○ NOT applicable to Vietnam’s peasant war.
○ Limited view of politics (only military balances, NOT beliefs/perceptions).
○ Assumes perfect information & constant ability to rationally calculate.
● Public disinterest in “national security” → critique of Vietnam War made security studies an
unfashionable subject at universities.
● Focus on international political economy (IPE).
The Renaissance of Security Studies (1970-90):
● New data = more systematic use of historical analysis; more access to archives.
● New methods = structured-focused case comparisons; more diverse social scientific
approaches to explain historic events.
● New realities = end of Cold War détente; Iranian & Nicaraguan revolution; Soviet
interventions in African states & Afghanistan.
Changes (disagreement among researchers):
● Due to the end of the Cold War:
○ Shift in warfare’s character → civil wars, “new wars” on identity > ideology (Kaldor).
■ Civilians as targets (vs. well-ordered battles between soldiers in uniforms).
(Total: 42 pages).
Global Security Lecture Notes (Lectures 1-13)
Table of Contents
Lecture 1: What is Global Security 1
Lecture 2: Anarchy, Uncertainty & War 3
Lecture 3: Alliances, Coercion & Diplomacy 7
Lecture 4: Foreign Military Interventions 10
Lecture 5: Counterterrorism & Military Technology 13
Lecture 6: Civil War 17
Lecture 7: Insurgency & Counterinsurgency (COIN) 19
Lecture 8: The War in Ukraine 23
Lecture 9: Gender Dimensions of Peace & Security 25
Lecture 10: Peacebuilding & its Critics 30
Lecture 11: Climate Change & Human Security 34
Lecture 12: Russian Information & Cyber War 38
Lecture 13: Review 40
, 1
Lecture 1: What is Global Security
Reading Questions
1. What is international security?
● International security refers to the study of threats and challenges that affect the security
of the international system as a whole. This includes issues such as war and conflict,
terrorism, nuclear proliferation, global pandemics, climate change, and economic
instability. International security is concerned with understanding the causes and
consequences of these threats and developing strategies to prevent or mitigate them.
2. In your view, what are the most important threats to international security, and why?
● Examples of threats to international security. Some of the most significant threats to
international security today include terrorism and violent extremism, state aggression and
conflict, cyber attacks, climate change and environmental degradation, and nuclear
proliferation. These threats are complex, interconnected, and require global cooperation
and coordination to effectively address.
3. In what ways is the evolution of the field of security studies linked to events in international history
and politics?
● The evolution of the field of security studies is closely linked to events in international
history and politics. The development of security studies as a field of academic inquiry was
largely driven by the events of World War II and the Cold War, which highlighted the need
for a more systematic and rigorous approach to understanding security threats and
developing strategies to manage them. Since then, the field has continued to evolve in
response to changing global dynamics, including the rise of non-state actors, the
emergence of new security threats, and the changing balance of power in the
international system. As such, security studies is deeply intertwined with broader debates
in international relations and political science, and is shaped by ongoing developments in
global politics and policy.
Key Concepts
● Security: Contested concept, measuring the absence of threats to acquired values (objective), or
the absence of fear that such values will be attacked (subjective).
● Referent Object: Who is being referred to when talking about security, influencing how security is
thought about (e.g., state → national interest, individual/ethnic group/society). Various referent
objects are NOT necessarily independent of one another.
● Deterrence: Practice of restraining a nation-state from taking unwanted actions, such as an armed
attack.
1. Defining Security
Security: Contested concept, measuring the absence of threats to acquired values (objective), or the
absence of fear that such values will be attacked (subjective).
➔ 2 ways of thinking:
◆ “Survival” Model: Freedom from life-threatening threats (safe from harm).
◆ “Survival-Plus” Model: Freedom to have life choices (quality of life/choices).
➔ Referent Object: Who is being referred to when talking about security, influencing how
security is thought about (e.g., state → national interest, individual/ethnic group/society).
Various referent objects are NOT necessarily independent of one another.
➔ Buzan’s key dimensions of security (helps categorisation):
◆ Military = offensive/defensive capabilities & consequences.
◆ Political = stability of states, their systems of government.
◆ Economic = resources & welfare.
, 2
◆ Social sustainability = maintenance of traditions/customs.
◆ Environmental sustainability = maintenance of the local/planetary biosphere.
DEFINING SECURITY What is the source of the security threat?
(SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT)
Military Military, Nonmilitary, Both
Security States National security (conventional Redefined security (e.g.,
for realist approach). environmental, economic).
whom?
Societies, Intrastate security (e.g., civil war, Human security (e.g., environmental
Groups, ethnic conflict, democide). & economic threats to society’s
Individuals survival).
2. How can security be achieved?
Many perspectives on security differ across countries, ages, political views.
➔ Safety can be the most dangerous way to live, NO way to achieve absolute security (e.g.,
security dilemma, trade wars).
3. Security Studies as a Field of Inquiry
The Golden Age (1950-60):
● WWI&II → civilian contributions to the study of strategy + long-term strategy to avoid war.
● National interest = security (war between superpowers) > welfare.
● Nuclear revolution → seminal research on deterrence, containment, coercion, escalation,
arms control + belief in deductive, rational thinking.
End of the Golden Age (1960-70):
● Traditional approaches limits:
○ NOT applicable to Vietnam’s peasant war.
○ Limited view of politics (only military balances, NOT beliefs/perceptions).
○ Assumes perfect information & constant ability to rationally calculate.
● Public disinterest in “national security” → critique of Vietnam War made security studies an
unfashionable subject at universities.
● Focus on international political economy (IPE).
The Renaissance of Security Studies (1970-90):
● New data = more systematic use of historical analysis; more access to archives.
● New methods = structured-focused case comparisons; more diverse social scientific
approaches to explain historic events.
● New realities = end of Cold War détente; Iranian & Nicaraguan revolution; Soviet
interventions in African states & Afghanistan.
Changes (disagreement among researchers):
● Due to the end of the Cold War:
○ Shift in warfare’s character → civil wars, “new wars” on identity > ideology (Kaldor).
■ Civilians as targets (vs. well-ordered battles between soldiers in uniforms).
