Course syllabus European Security and Crisis Management
Swedish name: Europeisk säkerhet och krishantering
Course code:
2SS069
Valid from semester:
Spring Term 2026
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
7.5 credits
Progression:
A1F
Grading scale:
Three-grade scale
Main field of study:
Political Science: Security Studies
Department:
Department of Political Science and Law
Subject:
Political Science
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Statsvetenskapliga institutionen
Decision date:
2025-09-04
Entry requirements
Admitted to the Master Program in Politics and War or to the PhD program in Political Science with a focus on crisis and security.
Course content and structure
The course focuses on new cross-border security threats such as terrorism and pandemics, as well as the challenges for European security and crisis management. It aims to provide an analytical and critical approach to security and crisis management concepts and their application in theory and European practice. The course addresses the following central problem areas: the broadened concept of security, cross-border crisis, human security and gender perspectives, and the EU's external and internal security. The development of the European security architecture is problematized in the light of other regional experiences. The course addresses challenges and opportunities for the creation of EU crisis management capabilities. Attention is also paid to how individual EU member states such as Sweden are affected by today's European security cooperation and the Union's broadened crisis management capabilities.
Teaching takes place in the form of lectures and seminars, where the student is expected to contribute to the common learning through participiaton in discussion and written assignments.
Teaching takes place in the form of lectures and seminars, where the student is expected to contribute to the common learning through participiaton in discussion and written assignments.
Type of Instruction
- Seminars
- Lectures
Objectives
After having completed this course, students will be able to:
- Account for the main scientific and theoretical issues in the field of regional security and crisis management, including gender questions
- Problematize the role of European security and crisis management through a comparative perspective
- Critically analyze opportunities and constraints for the creation of EU diplomatic, security, defense and crisis management capacities
- Explore various futures of regional security cooperation and crisis management, and discuss Swedish strategies for European security and crisis management
- Critically analyze the relationship between regional organizations (EU) and their member states (Sweden)
- Identify and evaluate the key normative and ethical questions in the field
Examination formats
Assessment takes place through written seminar assignments as well as a final oral examination.
The examiner may decide to request supplementary assignments in order to achieve a passing grade on the course. Supplementary assignments must be completed no later than three working days after the notification of any supplementary assignment, unless there are special reasons approved by the examiner.
Grading
The student is graded on a three-point grading scale: Fail (U), Pass (G), Pass with distinction (VG). Grading criteria are provided at the start of the course.
To obtain the grade Pass (G), the student must obtain a grade of Pass (G) for the seminar assignments and obtain a grade of Pass (G) for the oral examination.
To obtain the grade Pass with Distinction (VG), the student must, in addition to the requirements for Pass (G), obtain a Pass with Distinction (VG) on the oral examination.
The number of examinations is not limited.
The examiner may decide to request supplementary assignments in order to achieve a passing grade on the course. Supplementary assignments must be completed no later than three working days after the notification of any supplementary assignment, unless there are special reasons approved by the examiner.
Grading
The student is graded on a three-point grading scale: Fail (U), Pass (G), Pass with distinction (VG). Grading criteria are provided at the start of the course.
To obtain the grade Pass (G), the student must obtain a grade of Pass (G) for the seminar assignments and obtain a grade of Pass (G) for the oral examination.
To obtain the grade Pass with Distinction (VG), the student must, in addition to the requirements for Pass (G), obtain a Pass with Distinction (VG) on the oral examination.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
The number of examinations is not limited.
Transitional provisions
When the course is no longer offered or when the course content has changed substantially, the student has the right to be examined once per semester during a three-term period in accordance with this syllabus.
Other regulations
- The course cannot be included in a degree with another course whose content fully or partially corresponds to the content of this course.
- If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
- The course director will conduct an evaluation on the completion of the course, which will form the basis for any changes to the course.