PSI 330 International Security
2025 - 2026 Spring Semester
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Akşemsettinoğlu
Department of Political Science and International Relations
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
Çankaya University
Tel: 312 233 12 49
E-mail: gokhana@cankaya.edu.tr
Course Hours / Place
Wednesday 09.20 – 12.10 / K – 101
Office Hours / Place
Tuesday 13.20 – 14.10 and Thursday 13.20 – 14.10 / K – 414 or by appointment
Course Description
This course introduces students to the major theories, concepts, and debates in contemporary security studies. It examines how the meaning of security has evolved beyond traditional, state-centric and military approaches to include broader political, economic, societal, environmental, and human dimensions. The course surveys key theoretical perspectives—including realism, liberalism, and constructivism, and applies them to pressing global security challenges such as military security, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, cyber security, climate change, and human security. By engaging with both traditional and non-traditional perspectives, students develop the analytical tools necessary to assess security threats, actors, and practices in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Course Requirements
Attendance is mandatory for this course. Students are required to attend a minimum of 60% of all scheduled class sessions. Students who fail to fulfill this attendance requirement will forfeit their right to take the final examination and will be assigned an NA grade as their final course grade. Course assessment consists one midterm examination and one final examination. All examinations will be administered in essay format. Students are expected to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of both the assigned readings and the lecture materials, as examination questions will be based on content covered in both.
Reading Materials
The required readings for this course are taken from the following textbooks:
● Alan Collins (Editor). Contemporary Security Studies, 7th Edition, Oxford University Press, 2025.
● Norma Rossi & Malte Riemann (Editors). Security Studies, An Applied Introduction, Sage, 2024.
Lectures are supported by the following textbook:
● Michael John Williams, James Wesley Hutto, and Aslı Peker Dogra. Understanding International Security: Theory and Practice, Cambridge University Press, 2025.
All required readings will be available for duplication at the photocopy center. Students are strongly encouraged to acquire the complete set of course readings as soon as possible.
The following books are supplementary materials for the course and are recommended for additional reading:
● Williams D. Paul and Matt McDonald (Editors). Security Studies, an Introduction, 3rd Edition, Routledge, London and New York, 2018.
● Gheciu Alexandra and William C. Wohlforth. The Oxford Handbook of International Security, Oxford University Press, 2018.
● Scott, M. James and Ralph G. Carter et al. IR: International, Economic, and Human Security in a Changing World, Sage, 2018.
● Smith, E. Michael. International Security: Politics, Policy, Prospects, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.
● Hough, Peter. International Security Studies, Routledge, 2015
● Dannreuther, Roland. International Security: The Contemporary Agenda, Polity, 2013.
Grade Components
Class Participation 10 %
Midterm Examination 40 %
Final Examination 50 %
Course Outline
Introduction: What is Security Studies? (1 week)
(Collins, Chapter 1, pp. 1-10; Rossi & Riemann, Chapter 3, pp. 42-56)
Defining Security and Security Studies;
What is International Security?
Theories in Contemporary Security Studies (1 week)
(Collins, Chapter 2, pp. 11-27, Chapter 3, pp. 29-43, Chapter 6, pp. 71-86)
Realism and Neorealism; Liberalism and Liberal Internationalism; Social Constructivism
Warfare and Military Security (1 week)
(Collins, Chapter 15, pp. 214-227; Rossi & Riemann, Chapter 7, pp. 110-128)
The Nature and the Causes of War; Types of Warfare and Military Threats; Actors and Military Security
Weapons of Mass Destruction (1 week)
(Collins, Chapter 21, pp. 307-322; Rossi & Riemann, Chapter 11, pp. 196-210)
Definition and Development of Weapons of Mass Destruction;
Categories and Strategic Roles of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Terrorism and Counter Terrorism (1 week)
(Collins, Chapter 22, pp. 324-339; Rossi & Riemann, Chapter 9, pp. 152-172)
Definition, Types and Causes of Terrorism; Tactics and Strategies of Terrorism
Counter-Terrorism Approaches
International Arms Trade (1 week)
(Collins, Chapter 25, pp. 374-385; Rossi & Riemann, Chapter 10, pp. 176-192)
Categories and Drivers of Arms Trade; Arms trade and International Security
Emerging Trends in Arms Trade
Human Security (1 week)
(Collins, Chapter 12, pp. 169-182; Rossi & Riemann, Chapter 5, pp. 76-87
Definition and Core principles of Human Security; Seven Dimensions of Human Security
Human Security Threats in Practice
Climate Change and Environmental Security (1 week)
(Collins, Chapter 18, pp. 259-272; Rossi & Riemann, Chapter 20, pp. 398-418)
Climate Change as a “Threat Multiplier”; Key Drivers of Climate Change
Responses to Climate-Related Security Threats
Competing Approaches to Environmental Security
Energy Security (1 week)
(Collins, Chapter 24, pp. 357-372)
Definition and Emergence of Energy Security; Energy Security as a Political Instrument
Energy Resources and the Future of Energy Security
Cyber Security (1 week)
(Collins, Chapter 28, pp. 419-432; Rossi & Riemann, Chapter 18, pp. 354-372)
Types of Cyber Threats and Cyber Warfare; Cyber Security Actors and Challenges
Cyber Security Strategies and Implications
Organized Crime (1 week)
(Rossi & Riemann, Chapter 17, pp.335-352)
Key Characteristics and Types of Organized Crime; Causes of Organized Crime
Strategies and Responses to Organized Crime
Migration and International Security (1 week)
(Rossi & Riemann, Chapter 14, pp. 261-282)
Types and Drivers of Migration; Policy Responses and Governance
Emerging Trends
The Future of International Security
(Discussion Session)