International Relations Special Course: European Peacekeeping
Course code
RII6026.YK
old course code
RII6026
Course title in Estonian
Rahvusvaheliste suhete erikursus: Euroopa rahuvalve
Course title in English
International Relations Special Course: European Peacekeeping
ECTS credits
4.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2023/2024 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
The focus of the course is to take a closer look at the theoretical and practical (i.e ESDP, ESS, EU battlegroups concept) underpinnings of the conduct of peacekeeping-missions by the European Union.
It aims at providing an overview of the conceptual frictions and real-world challenges peacekeeping is confronted with today.
Main theoretical approaches (Responsibility to Protect, Human Security, Copenhagen School, Critical Security Studies) will be introduced as to allow the framing of the topic in different lights.
Equipped with the analytical tools, participants will further engage in a review of EU’s role as a peacekeeper through the study and evaluation of specific case-studies.
It aims at providing an overview of the conceptual frictions and real-world challenges peacekeeping is confronted with today.
Main theoretical approaches (Responsibility to Protect, Human Security, Copenhagen School, Critical Security Studies) will be introduced as to allow the framing of the topic in different lights.
Equipped with the analytical tools, participants will further engage in a review of EU’s role as a peacekeeper through the study and evaluation of specific case-studies.
Brief description of the course
The course will be given in seminar form, meaning, it will be mainly built around assigned readings and their discussion at the lecture.
The topics include:
1) An introduction into the essentially contested nature of the concept of peacekeeping and its evolution.
2) The conflict environment: highlighting major changes in the conflict settings and how that has affected the discourse on peacekeeping (i.e. Brahimi report)
3) Perspectives and approaches that provide an analytical framework for studying peacekeeping (“mainstream”, and critical perspectives on security – highlighting different facets).
4) Actors engaged in peacekeeping: The EU as a security actor; its engagement in crisis management; EU and its partners in peacekeeping (UN, NATO, AU).
5) Case-studies: Sketching and evaluation of the role the EU plays in current peacekeeping.
The topics include:
1) An introduction into the essentially contested nature of the concept of peacekeeping and its evolution.
2) The conflict environment: highlighting major changes in the conflict settings and how that has affected the discourse on peacekeeping (i.e. Brahimi report)
3) Perspectives and approaches that provide an analytical framework for studying peacekeeping (“mainstream”, and critical perspectives on security – highlighting different facets).
4) Actors engaged in peacekeeping: The EU as a security actor; its engagement in crisis management; EU and its partners in peacekeeping (UN, NATO, AU).
5) Case-studies: Sketching and evaluation of the role the EU plays in current peacekeeping.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
Insights into the discourse on the concept of peacekeeping.
Understanding the EU’s role in current peace operations and the institutional evolution of its security dimension.
Knowledge of main theoretical approaches to analyse the practice of peacekeeping within the contemporary world order.
Insights into the discourse on the concept of peacekeeping.
Understanding the EU’s role in current peace operations and the institutional evolution of its security dimension.
Knowledge of main theoretical approaches to analyse the practice of peacekeeping within the contemporary world order.
Teacher
Thomas Linsenmaier, Tiago Marques, Birgit Poopuu
Study programmes containing that course