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Teaching

UG: Critical Security Studies (PO 381)

This module is puts critical approaches to the study and practice of security into the spotlight. In particular, it seeks to encourage students to reflect on the analytical and ethical assumptions that shape the ways in which security is thought about and practiced in contemporary global politics. After locating debates about the meaning of security in historical context, it explores different theoretical approaches to security from a variety of critical perspectives and how these may add to our understanding of security issues such as violent conflict, terrorism, human rights, poverty, and migration in national, regional, and global contexts.

MA: US Security Policy (PO 979):

The module is concerned with developing an advanced understanding of US Security Policy through merging insights and concepts from the disciplines of US foreign policy analysis, US defence studies, and the study of international security. The module seeks to encourage students to critically reflect on the dynamics of America’s quest for security by exploring the historical, institutional, and ideational context of contemporary US security policy. Centred around key concepts of international security, the module addresses US security policy from the end of the Cold War to the present day.

MA: The US Business of War (PO 982)

The study of international security and political economy are two sides of the same coin, and this module explores the complex relationship between political economy and security issues through a focus on the US. 'The US Business of War' aims at enhancing students’ understanding of how states define their national security objectives, and how this shapes their behaviour in the international arena - and, importantly, how and why national security, like all areas of public policy, is influenced by the pursuit of political agendas.

MA: United States Foreign Policy and National Security (PO 983)

The module offers a comprehensive and critical analysis of the foreign policy and national security of the United States of America in the 21st century, and it consists of two parts. Part A (taught by Trevor McCrisken) lays its focus on examining the making of US foreign policy and analysing key global issues confronting the US today, including international terrorism, US military interventions and the use of force, and the role of the US in regional relations. Part B (taught by Alexandra) is concerned with developing a systematic and contextual understanding of the dynamics, challenges, and opportunities of contemporary US security policy through an 'International Security lens'.

Supervision

Alexandra is interested in supervising graduate research in the areas of US foreign and security policy as well as international security (in particular in the nexus between (inter)national security and political economy; the relationship between security discourse and practice; fusing insights from traditional and ciritcal approaches to international security).