International security in Europe

During this particular course the most important phenomena, challenges and threats affecting the security of European countries in the second decade of the 21st century will be presented. The activities and condition of the key organizations responsible for security in Europe - UN, NATO, European Union, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and regional formats (transatlantic relations, Nordefco, V4 and B9), as well as the security policies of selected states are to be discussed. The aim of the course is also to provide students with knowledge about the so-called new threats: hybrid wars, information wars, etc. carried out by state and non-state entities.

The aim of the course is to present general picture of the current European security infrastructure. The activities of the most important security organizations (UN, NATO, EU, OSCE, regional formats) and the adaptation of these institutions to the changing conditions of international security will be discussed in the context of contemporary security theories and paradigms. Moreover, the security policies of selected European countries and the most important strategic documents defining the assumptions and directions of these policies will be discussed. Also, the most recent and significant threats to the security of European countries in recent years are to be prsented: asymmetrical threats, information wars, hybrid wars, threats resulting from the use of new technologies and the like.

Achieving the learning outcomes defined for the subject and obtaining a credit requires dedication additional 4 hours of self-study and performance of the prepared presentation on specific topic.

1. Hough Peter, Andrew Moran, Bruce Pilbeam, Wendy Stokes, International Security Studies. Theory and Practice, Routledge 2021.

2. EU Global Strategy, 2016.

3. Paul D. Williams, Matt McDonald, Security Studies, An Introduction, Routledge, 2018.

4. P.S. Douma, The origins of contemporary conficts. A comparison of violence in three world regions, Clingendael, 2003.

5. Russia, IISS, Routledge 2021.

6. Cyber, IISS, Routledge 2019.

7. Rugge F., Mind hacking: Information Warfare in the Cyberage, ISPI, 2018.

8. The Oxford Handbook of International Organizations, Oxford University Press, 2017.

9. SIPRI Yearbooks (latest decade).

10. Military Balance (latest decade).