Target group: Students of the MA program "International Relations and Security Studies", Department of Political Science, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
Course aims: This course aims to develop a comprehensive and considered understanding of the structure and processes of the European Security and Defense Policy, to identify and critically examine outstanding issues in the contemporary European integration process in this field. Another goal is to present to the students relevant theoretical approaches and insight to the scholarly literature on the subject. This course also aims to develop students’ analytical, critical and communication skills in terms of defining, developing and presenting (in oral and written form) a specific research topic.
Course outline: This is a one semester elective course - 30 academic hours (15 weeks). Having in mind that it will be taught to MA students the course contents will contain material above introductory level. The course will examine critically the structure and processes, the institutional and legal setting, the strategy, goals and capabilities as well as the current civilian and military operations within the framework of ESDP. An emphasis will be put on the decision-making process (with brief introduction of relevant theories), as well as the political and institutional context in which this policy has emerged and developed. The course will include a part devoted to the current debate on the future of the ESDP (the deliberations of Working Group VIII - Defense of the European Convention 2003), the competing visions about the structure and substance as well as the perspectives for practical implementation and relations to other European common policies – especially the Common Foreign Policy and the JHA. Additional seminar will be allocated to the effects of the fifth enlargement of the EU. Special attention will be paid on the ESDP – NATO relations – the Berlin Plus agreements.
Course requirements: Attendance of 75% of seminars is required for getting credits. Students are expected to read approximately 40 pages per week and participate actively in the seminar discussions. Each student will be assigned a topic for presentation, to be delivered during the seminars. Students who are delivering presentations are expected to provide 1-2 page handout on the topic.
Evaluation: Assessment will be based on students’ presentations and participation in seminars (20%), and final examination (80%). The final examination will take place in the form of and written examination on topics from the course curriculum. This mixture of oral and written forms of evaluation is intended to contribute to the development of both presentation and communication skills and academic writing skills.
Evaluation: Assessment will be based on students’ presentations and participation in seminars (20%), and final examination (80%). The final examination will take place in the form of and written examination on topics from the course curriculum. This mixture of oral and written forms of evaluation is intended to contribute to the development of both presentation and communication skills and academic writing skills.
