International Politics and Security
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the tools to analyse and understand the theme of security in the global political-strategic arena.
The goal is to examine: the main topics and tendencies with regard to the causes of international insecurity; the way insecurity arises in the various geographic areas; national policies to contrast political and geostrategic risks.
The course delves deeper into the study of international politics, with a focus on security issues, aiming to develop students' awareness of the political and strategic challenges of State interventions in the current international system, as well as students' ability to analyse these challenges.
The goal is to examine: the main topics and tendencies with regard to the causes of international insecurity; the way insecurity arises in the various geographic areas; national policies to contrast political and geostrategic risks.
The course delves deeper into the study of international politics, with a focus on security issues, aiming to develop students' awareness of the political and strategic challenges of State interventions in the current international system, as well as students' ability to analyse these challenges.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students are expected to acquire the knowledge and analysis tools in the field of international security studies.
Through the study of subject-specific materials and an active participation in lectures, they will improve their ability to understand the political and strategic dynamics of the main areas of the international system, the rationale behind actions taken at regional and global level and major changes in the nature of international security risks.
Thanks to the knowledge acquired, students will develop an ability to make independent analyses on the dichotomy security/insecurity, providing new interpretations besides the ones acquired in the frame of other internationalist courses.
Finally, students will master the appropriate vocabulary to express trustworthy opinions on international security issues in their future professional contexts.
Through the study of subject-specific materials and an active participation in lectures, they will improve their ability to understand the political and strategic dynamics of the main areas of the international system, the rationale behind actions taken at regional and global level and major changes in the nature of international security risks.
Thanks to the knowledge acquired, students will develop an ability to make independent analyses on the dichotomy security/insecurity, providing new interpretations besides the ones acquired in the frame of other internationalist courses.
Finally, students will master the appropriate vocabulary to express trustworthy opinions on international security issues in their future professional contexts.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The course introduces the student to the literature of Security Studies and aims to illustrate its history and main themes. It focuses in particular on the transition from a traditional notion of national security to the recent evolution of security threats and the proliferation of new declinations of the concept: human security, cyber security, global security, cooperative security, food security.
In the panorama of the international system following the end of the Cold War, some of the most discussed topics in the discipline related to the evolution of security threats will be addressed: from new weapons to the role of drones in the battlefield; from competition between great powers to the use of food security as a tool of war; from cooperative security on a global scale to human security.
In the panorama of the international system following the end of the Cold War, some of the most discussed topics in the discipline related to the evolution of security threats will be addressed: from new weapons to the role of drones in the battlefield; from competition between great powers to the use of food security as a tool of war; from cooperative security on a global scale to human security.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of Political Science and Contemporary History is presumed.
The course on International Relations is preparatory.
The course on International Relations is preparatory.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Teaching Resources
For attending students:
- Lectures notes;
- P. Foradori, G.Giacomello (a cura di), Sicurezza globale. Le nuove minacce, Il Mulino (2015) - Capitoli dall'1 al 6; 9; 10; 12; 13.
- M. Clementi, M. Tognocchi, La politica dell'abbondanza. Cibo, sicurezza alimentare e relazioni internazionali, Mondadori (2014).
- Further readings will be distributed by the lecturers during the course of the lessons.
For non-attendign students:
- P. Foradori, G.Giacomello (a cura di), Sicurezza globale. Le nuove minacce, Il Mulino (2015.
- M. Clementi, M. Tognocchi, La politica dell'abbondanza. Cibo, sicurezza alimentare e relazioni internazionali, Mondadori (2024).
- G. Chamayou, Teoria del drone. Principi filosofici del diritto di uccidere, Derive e Approdi, 2014.
- Lectures notes;
- P. Foradori, G.Giacomello (a cura di), Sicurezza globale. Le nuove minacce, Il Mulino (2015) - Capitoli dall'1 al 6; 9; 10; 12; 13.
- M. Clementi, M. Tognocchi, La politica dell'abbondanza. Cibo, sicurezza alimentare e relazioni internazionali, Mondadori (2014).
- Further readings will be distributed by the lecturers during the course of the lessons.
For non-attendign students:
- P. Foradori, G.Giacomello (a cura di), Sicurezza globale. Le nuove minacce, Il Mulino (2015.
- M. Clementi, M. Tognocchi, La politica dell'abbondanza. Cibo, sicurezza alimentare e relazioni internazionali, Mondadori (2024).
- G. Chamayou, Teoria del drone. Principi filosofici del diritto di uccidere, Derive e Approdi, 2014.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will be a written test. In the written exam the students are asked to answer to 3 open questions based on the texts in the program.
The examination will be aimed at:
- ascertaining the knowledge and comprehension of the main topics treated in class and in the books;
- ascertaining the ability to apply that knowledge to current trends and events in international politics;
- ascertaining the mastery of the specific language in the field of security studies.
The examination will be aimed at:
- ascertaining the knowledge and comprehension of the main topics treated in class and in the books;
- ascertaining the ability to apply that knowledge to current trends and events in international politics;
- ascertaining the mastery of the specific language in the field of security studies.
Professor(s)