IRLS310 - Introduction to Human Security

After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:

CO- 1 Describe the role of rapid globalization in changing perceptions of security

CO – 2 Identify key threats to human security

CO – 3 Compare and contrast traditional international relations approaches to security with the doctrine of human security

CO – 4 Examine the various initiatives developed by states, non-state actors, and intergovernmental organizations to enhance human security

CO – 5 Apply the concepts of human security

These course objectives harmonize with the Degree Program Objectives, which require graduates to:

• Compare and contrast the political, economic, and military components of foreign policy decision making and analyze the impact of foreign policy on domestic decisions.
• Draw conclusions about the implications of foreign policy as it is currently applied to various regions of the world.
• Evaluate the "national interest" and how it is formulated, assess alternatives to current policies, and examine their likely impact on the United States, its allies, and other nations.
• Examine the theory, nature, and causes of war and their relationship to diplomacy; assess the contributions of diplomacy to accomplishment of war objectives.
• Critically assess the unique principles, structure, and organization of the major international organizations.
• Examine the prospects of governance by international organizations.
• Assess the economic and political processes in international development; diagnose social issues in international development; appraise the need for sustainable international development.
• Evaluate the multidimensional effects of globalization.

Required Course Textbooks

Various resources from the APUS Library are used. Please visit http://apus.libguides.com/er.php to locate the course eReserve

Required Readings

Required Readings

Week 1

• Alexandra Amouyel, “What is Human Security?,” Human Security Journal.
• United Nations, “Final Report of the Commission on Human Security” Chapter 1
• Week 1 Lesson Notes

Week 2

• Bora, Saswati, Iride Ceccacci, Christopher Delgado, and Robert Townsend. "Food and Security Conflict."
• Carolan, Michael. "The Food and Human Security Index: Rethinking Food Security and ‘Growth’."
• Lander, Max. "School Garden Programs and Food Security | Pulitzer Center."
• United Nations, “Final Report of the Commission on Human Security.” Chapter 3
• Week 2 Lesson Notes

Week 3

• Kettemann, Matthew . "The Conceptual Debate on Human Security and its Relevance for the Development of International Law."
• "Migrants in Times of Crisis: An Emerging Protection Challenge." Interantional Peace Institute.
• United Nations, “Final Report of the Commission on Human Security.” Chapter 2
• Walt, Stephen. "A grand new strategy for American Foreign Policy."
• Week 3 Lesson Notes which includes Mary Kaldor’s response to Stephen Walt.

Week 4

• "Human Security, Climate Change and Environmentally Induced Migration." Institute for Environment and Human Security.
• Tipson, Frederick. "Natural Disasters as Threats to Peace."
• United Nations, “Final Report of the Commission on Human Security.” Chapter 4
• Week 4 Lesson Notes

Week 5

• "Country Profile: Cuba." Library of Congress - Federal Research Division.
• Ethan Kapstein and Kamma Kathuria “Economic Assistance in Conflict Zones: Lessons From Afghanistan”
• Moreno, Alejandro, and Daniel Calingaert. "Change Comes to Cuba: Citizens’ Views on Reform after the Sixth Party Congress."
• United Nations, “Final Report of the Commission on Human Security.” Chapter 5
• Week 5 Lesson Notes

Week 6

• Hughes, Donna, Katherine Chon, and Derek Ellerman. 2007. Modern-day comfort women: the U.S. military, transnational crime, and the trafficking of women. Violence Against Women: 901-922
• Krieg, Sarah H. 2009. Trafficking in human beings: the EU approach between border control, law enforcement and human rights.
• Sussman, Anna Louise. "The Brothel Next Door."
• United Nations, “Final Report of the Commission on Human Security.” Chapter 6
• "United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime." Comprehensive Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants.”
• Week 6 Lesson Notes

Week 7

• Carlton, Sally. "Human Security in Nepal: Where to Now?" In Human security in Nepal: concepts, issues and challenges, 279-292.
• Cohen, Michael, Maria Figueroa, and Parag Khanna. "The New Colonialists."
• Hetherington, M. J. and Husser, J. A. (2012), How Trust Matters: The Changing Political Relevance of Political Trust, 312–325.
• Human Security Centre, Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia and the School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. "Why the Dramatic Decline in Armed Conflict?"
• Human Security Centre, Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia and the School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. "Counting the Indirect Costs of War"
• Ricks, Thomas. "The real scandal of Benghazi is the plodding caution of U.S. military leaders."
• United Nations, “Final Report of the Commission on Human Security.” Chapter 7
• Week 7 Lesson Notes

Week 8

• Gittleman, Andrea, and Mark Lagon. "Combating Gender-Based Violence as a U.S. Policy Priority.”
• Human Security Centre, Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia and the School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. "Trends in Human Insecurity”
• Human Security Centre, Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia and the School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. "Assault on the Vulnerable.”
• Kant, Immanuel. "Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch."
• Schirch, Lisa. "From Protection of Civilians to Human Security: Comparing and Contrasting Principles, Distinctions and Institutionalization."
• United Nations, “Final Report of the Commission on Human Security.” Chapter 8
• Week 8 Lesson Notes

Students are also expected to follow international affairs by regularly accessing reputable media sources with significant foreign policy content, such as TV newscasts (Newshour (PBS), CNN WorldView/The World Today, C-Span, ABC News, ABC Nightline, CBS News, NBC News), radio (National Public Radio), newspapers (New York Times, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal), news services (AP, Reuters) and/or news magazines (Time, Newsweek, The Economist).

Additional Resources and Web Sites are found in the classroom.