Cette unité d’enseignement n’est pas accessible aux étudiants d’échange !
Enseignants
Langue
d'enseignement
d'enseignement
Anglais
Thèmes abordés
This seminar focuses on security and defence policies in Europe. Security and defence policies are defined as all interventions (political-military alliances, military equipment production, nuclear deterrence, military operations, diplomatic negotiations, economic sanctions) carried out by government authorities (national or international) in response to situations perceived as public issues relating to peace and war (Putin’s Russia, jihadist terrorism, hybrid attacks on critical infrastructure in Europe, the rise of China, climate change, etc.).
Europe is defined as all political and institutional spaces located, at least in part, on the European continent and within which a range of actors (politicians, military personnel, diplomats, industrialists, lobbyists, experts, journalists, citizens) maintain collaborative and conflictual relationships in order to develop, implement, legitimise and challenge security and defence policies. This definition includes the European Union (EU) but is not limited to it, as other international organisations, including NATO, play a central role in the European security architecture.
Europe is defined as all political and institutional spaces located, at least in part, on the European continent and within which a range of actors (politicians, military personnel, diplomats, industrialists, lobbyists, experts, journalists, citizens) maintain collaborative and conflictual relationships in order to develop, implement, legitimise and challenge security and defence policies. This definition includes the European Union (EU) but is not limited to it, as other international organisations, including NATO, play a central role in the European security architecture.
Acquis
d'apprentissage
d'apprentissage
A la fin de cette unité d’enseignement, l’étudiant est capable de : | |
| The objective of this seminar, organised in 13 two-hour sessions, is to provide students with a solid understanding of the institutional order, the actors and the issues that shape security and defence policies in Europe in the context of the war in Ukraine. The main puzzle of the seminar can be summarised by the following question: Why is Europe unable to ensure its collective security and how can it become a strategic power? The aim of the seminar is to develop students’ knowledge of the EU based on strategic issues and, conversely, to understand the mechanisms that shape security and defence policies from the perspective of the European integration process, as well as Europeanisation and European cooperation. Beyond knowledge of security and defence policies in Europe, this seminar is also an opportunity for students to develop the hard and soft skills they need to become competent professionals who can contribute to finding innovative political solutions to complex problems in challenging situations. Last but not least, this seminar is a demanding but supportive learning environment that allows students to learn in a caring atmosphere. |
|
Contenu
The seminar is organised in two parts. How are security and defence policies governed in Europe? The first part of the seminar aims to understand the governance of security and defence policies in Europe and the role of the actors involved, drawing on public policy analysis, international relations theories and comparative political economy.
What are the main strategic challenges for Europe in the context of the war in Ukraine and how can they be addressed? The second part of the seminar focuses on the major challenges of security and defence policies in Europe in order to formulate recommendations identifying the conditions necessary for building a ‘European strategic power’.
Each session will generally be organised in the same way. The first hour will be devoted to oral presentations prepared by the students, followed by a discussion, including a discussion of the compulsory weekly reading. The second hour will be a summary of the main points to remember, presented by the professor.
What are the main strategic challenges for Europe in the context of the war in Ukraine and how can they be addressed? The second part of the seminar focuses on the major challenges of security and defence policies in Europe in order to formulate recommendations identifying the conditions necessary for building a ‘European strategic power’.
Each session will generally be organised in the same way. The first hour will be devoted to oral presentations prepared by the students, followed by a discussion, including a discussion of the compulsory weekly reading. The second hour will be a summary of the main points to remember, presented by the professor.
Modes d'évaluation
des acquis des étudiants
des acquis des étudiants
Students will be assessed through three exercises: one individual exercise (final exam) and two group exercises.
Strengthening your knowledge – Multiple-choice questions (MCQ) (40%)
Students will be required to take a multiple-choice questions (MCQ) test as their final exam in January 2026. The purpose of this exam is to assess the knowledge acquired during the seminar. Students will not have access to any documents and will not be allowed to use their laptops or phones. In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), this old-fashioned exercise aims to test the knowledge acquired by students without any technological support. This mark out of 20 can be increased by two additional points depending on the level of participation and engagement of students during each session of the seminar.
Crafting an explanation – Oral presentation (30%)
Each student will be required to give a group oral presentation during the first part of the seminar, from session 2 (29 September) to session 7 (10 November). The aim of this 15-minute oral presentation is to develop an explanation of a political phenomenon from a specific research question and using academic references. A PowerPoint presentation must be sent to the professor and all students the day before the presentation.
Designing policy recommendations – Oral presentation (30%)
Each student will be required to give an oral presentation in a group during the second part of the seminar, from session 8 (17 November) to session 11 (8 December). The aim of this 15-minute oral presentation is to formulate recommendations in response to a specific policy dilemma. A written document (policy paper) must be submitted to the professor and all students the day before the presentation. Student groups cannot be the same for both oral presentations in order to take into account different working conditions.
Second session examination (August 2026)
Each student will obtain a final mark based on the average of the marks obtained in these three exercises. If a student does not obtain the average mark (10/20), he/she will be required to sit a written examination in the form of essay questions, which will be held in August 2026.
Strengthening your knowledge – Multiple-choice questions (MCQ) (40%)
Students will be required to take a multiple-choice questions (MCQ) test as their final exam in January 2026. The purpose of this exam is to assess the knowledge acquired during the seminar. Students will not have access to any documents and will not be allowed to use their laptops or phones. In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), this old-fashioned exercise aims to test the knowledge acquired by students without any technological support. This mark out of 20 can be increased by two additional points depending on the level of participation and engagement of students during each session of the seminar.
Crafting an explanation – Oral presentation (30%)
Each student will be required to give a group oral presentation during the first part of the seminar, from session 2 (29 September) to session 7 (10 November). The aim of this 15-minute oral presentation is to develop an explanation of a political phenomenon from a specific research question and using academic references. A PowerPoint presentation must be sent to the professor and all students the day before the presentation.
Designing policy recommendations – Oral presentation (30%)
Each student will be required to give an oral presentation in a group during the second part of the seminar, from session 8 (17 November) to session 11 (8 December). The aim of this 15-minute oral presentation is to formulate recommendations in response to a specific policy dilemma. A written document (policy paper) must be submitted to the professor and all students the day before the presentation. Student groups cannot be the same for both oral presentations in order to take into account different working conditions.
Second session examination (August 2026)
Each student will obtain a final mark based on the average of the marks obtained in these three exercises. If a student does not obtain the average mark (10/20), he/she will be required to sit a written examination in the form of essay questions, which will be held in August 2026.
Autres infos
Reminders
- Students are asked to arrive on time, switch off their phones when entering the classroom and refrain from using them during sessions.
- The professor will agree to write a letter of recommendation for students who achieve an overall average of 15/20 or higher.
- Any assignment not submitted by the deadline without justification will receive a mark of 0/20.
- Please note that plagiarism is prohibited at UCLouvain and is subject to severe penalties.
Faculté ou entité
en charge
en charge
Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)
Intitulé du programme
Sigle
Crédits
Prérequis
Acquis
d'apprentissage
d'apprentissage
Master [120] in EU Studies
