Theorising Security and War (distance)

Theorizing helps us to pose and answer these questions. This module introduces students to ways of conceptualizing power, security and war. Since forms of security and war are intimately correlated with forms of cultural political and economic life, theories in this module address: geopolitics, biopolitics, techno-science, digitalization, molecularization, network war, image war and virtual war. The teaching and learning strategy of Theorising Security and War is designed to make students theoretically and philosophically literate in conceptual and analytical schemes comprising the biopolitics as well as the geopolitics of security and war. Students should be able to:

In the process students should be able to demonstrate in written work, presentation and online discussion more refined analytical skills in the interrogation and critical engagement of empirical material and case studies drawn from a wide variety of multi-media sources.

Suggested Reading:

Foucault, Michel, Society Must be Defended (Allen Lane, 2003)

Castells, Manuel, The Rise of the Network Society (Blackwell's, 2000)

Messner, Dirk, The Network Society (Frank Cass, 1997)

Creveld, Martin van, The Transformation of War (Free Press, 1991)

Suganami, H, On the Causes of War (Clarendon Press, 1996)

Giddens, Anthony, A Contemporary Critique of Historical Materialism, Volume 2. Nation and Violence (Polity Press, 1987)