Course summary

The International Relations and Security MA provides an advanced, critical examination of security as one of the defining issues in contemporary international politics. Central themes include the underlying dynamics of interstate wars, state and non-state violence (including terrorism), the global balance of power, and challenges to the legitimacy of international institutions. Alongside these movements, there are existing and emerging geopolitical shifts, the proliferation of surveillance and algorithmic violence, the dangers of authoritarianism, and escalating humanitarian emergencies which raise significant questions for states, communities, and societies worldwide. The course's critical approach—combined with historical and comparative analysis of interstate conflicts, state and nonstate violence, terrorism, surveillance politics, humanitarian crises, and challenges to international institutions—builds advanced analytical, research, and critical thinking skills. Graduates are highly valued by employers who need professionals capable of interpreting complex security landscapes, situating current events within broader theoretical and historical frameworks, and crafting informed policy responses.