OVERVIEW

The module aims to illustrate the evolution of security studies in international relations. It deals with the transformation of global security in the post-Cold War era, from contemporary wars to peace support operations and terrorism. The module provides the conceptual tools to better understand the main features and actors of international security, highlighting also practical skills for students interested in career opportunities in global affairs.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to illustrate the evolution of contemporary security, from peacekeeping to terrorism. The course provides the conceptual tools to better understand the transformation of international security also through active learning and role-playing. The course will focus on issues such as: the transformation of contemporary conflicts, transnational terrorism at the time of the ISIL, civil wars, counter-insurgency; peacekeeping operations, fragile states and organized crime, military transformation in Europe; technology and war, from drones to cyber-security.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

• The module aims at providing basic knowledge on the transformation of contemporary security
• The module aims at providing a comprehensive conceptual toolkit to understand the role of actors, scenarios and security threats in the post-Cold War security context
• The module will illustrate the debate over causes and consequences of complex social phenomenon like civil wars, terrorism, peacekeeping, multilateral peace support operations, military transformation, cyber security. The scholarly debate on the supposed decline of war will be assessed. 
• The module will examine the relationship between public opinion and war, devoting a specific attention to the role of strategic narratives
• The Module focuses on military innovation
• Military transformation and the evolution of defense policy in Europe in the post Cold war will be examined in details. The case of Italy will be investigated.
• The module aims to provide students the proper tools to understand the complexity of contemporary security, also through active learning and role-playing.

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching activities will be based also on active learning and seminars with experts on the field of security in order to foster debates and a constant involvement of students. Movies, blogs, papers will be adopted.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The module illustrates:

New scenarios: The transformation of contemporary conflicts, continuity and discontinuity in the “new wars”, transnational terrorism at the time of ISIL, civil wars (cases of Bosnia and Syria), counter-insurgency (Iraq, Afghanistan); fragile states and organized crime, military transformation in Europe; technology ad war: drones and cyber-security. A specific attention will be devoted to the war in Middle East. The war in Ukraine and the return of conventional warfare will be examined in details.

New Actors: Peacekeeping (features, effectiveness), Peace Support Operations and Responsibility to protect (R2P), Foreign Fighters and terrorists, NGOs and development cooperation. The return of deterrence and defense. Focus: public opinion and wars.

Focus I: Domestic actors and security issues. A case study: the evolution of Italian defense policy at the time of populism. 

Focus II: A new defense policy paradigm in Europe after the war in Ukraine. 

Focus III: Evolution of warfare after the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Main topics

• Security and Strategic studies: concepts, actors, definitions
• International security after the end of the Cold War: change and continuity
• The debate on the (supposed) decline of war 
• Civil wars and insurgencies
• Terrorism at the time of ISIL
• Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
• Technology and war
• Fragile states, organized crime, and conflicts
• Military transformation 
• Cyber security 
• Public opinion and security issue. The role of strategic narratives
• Peace research, critical security studies and human security
• Cases: Italian defense policy, military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, the civil wars in Bosnia and Syria, Italy and terrorism
• The war in Ukraine. 
• The war in Middle East
• Research design and methods in security studies

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Compulsory texts

Call C. T. (2010), “Beyond the 'failed state': Toward conceptual alternatives”, European Journal of International Relations, 17/2, pp.303-326.

Coticchia, F. “The Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Military Technology in Contemporary Warfare, and the Evolution of Italian Defense”, ISPI Commentary, 28 January 2025 https://www.ispionline.it/en/publication/the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-military-technology-in-contemporary-warfare-and-the-evolution-of-italian-defense-198170

Fortna, V. P. and L.M Howard (2008), Pitfalls and Prospects in the Peacekeeping Literature, The Annual Review of Political Science, 283-302

Grissom, A. (2006), The future of military innovation studies, Journal of Strategic Studies, 29(5), 905-934.

Hegghammer, T., (2016) “The Future of Jihadism in Europe: A Pessimistic View”, Perspective on Terrorism, 10(6).

King, A. (2022), Why Did the Taliban Win?  Armed Forces and Society 

Kalyvas, S. N. (2001), “New" and "Old" Civil Wars: A Valid Distinction? World Politics, Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 99-118

Mazziotti di Celso, M., Coticchia, F., Reure, J-M., International Peacekeeping,  (2025): "Italy’s Foreign Military Deployments: Theories, Gaps, and Future Research", 32(3): 647-676.

Lindsay J.R. (2013), “Stuxnet and the Limits of Cyber Warfare”. Security Studies, 365-404

Texts at your choice (two for attending students, 4 for non-attending students) 

The students will select from some of the following. The topic is at your choice.

Theories in security and strategic studies

Biddle, S. (2007) The past as prologue: Assessing theories of future warfare, Security Studies, 1-74

Strachan, H. (2019), Strategy in theory, strategy in practice, Journal of Strategic Studies, 1-20

Walt, S. (1991), The Renaissance of Security Studies. International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 2, 211-239. 

Selected chapters from: L.Freedman, The Future of War (Public Affairs, 2017)

Selected chapters from: B.Buzan and L. Hansen, “The Evolution of International Security Studies” (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2009).

Civil wars and insurgencies

Biddle, S., Friedman J., Shapiro, J. (2012), “Testing the Surge: Why Did Violence Decline in Iraq in 2007?” International Security, 37(1), 7-40

Costalli, S., Moro, F, Ruggeri, A. (2020) The Logic of Vulnerability and Civilian Victimization. Shifting Front Lines in Italy (1943–1945) World Politics

Corradi, E. (2023 Beyond Armed Competition: The Logic of Rebel Groups’ Alliance Formation, Civil War, 25(2-3)

Cederman, L-E. and Vogt, M. (2017), “Dynamics and Logics of Civil”, War Journal of Conflict Resolution, 1-25

Kolenda, C. D. (2019): Slow Failure: Understanding America’s quagmire in Afghanistan. Journal of Strategic Studies, 1-23.

Peacekeeping, peacebuilding, post-conflict solutions

Autesserre, Séverine. "Hobbes and the Congo: frames, local violence, and international intervention." International Organization (2009): 249-280.

Bove V., and Ruggeri A. (2016) “Kinds of Blue. Diversity in U.N. Peacekeeping Missions and Civilian Protection”.British Journal of Political Science 46(3):681-700.

Bove V., Ruffa, C., and Ruggeri A. (2020), Composing peace. Mission composition in UN peacekeeping”, Oxford University Press. Only Introduction

Cama, G. Coticchia, F. "Political parties matter: a research agenda on interactions among elites in post-conflict democracies", Contemporary Politics, Vol. 5 issue 4, 2019, 373-392.

Duursma, et al (2023) UN Peacekeeping at 75: Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects. International Peacekeeping, Issue 4.

Howard, L.M., and A.K. Dayal. (2018), The use of force in UN Peacekeeping." International Organization 72, no. 1, 71-103.

Hultman, L. Kathman, J, Shannon, M. Beyond (2014), “Keeping Peace: United Nations Effectiveness in the Midst of Fighting”, American Political Science Review

Karlsrud, J. (2015) The UN at war: examining the consequences of peace enforcement mandates for the UN peacekeeping operations in the CAR, the DRC and Mali, Third World Quarterly, 36(1), 40-54.

Karlsrud, J.  (2019) From Liberal Peacebuilding to Stabilization and Counterterrorism, International Peacekeeping, 26:1, 1-21.

Terrorism at the time of ISIL

Basra R. and P. R. Neumann, “Criminal Pasts, Terrorist Futures: European Jihadists and the New Crime-Terror Nexus”, Perspective on Terrorism, 10(6), 2016.

Beccaro A. and Bonino, S. (2019): Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Italian Exceptionalism and Its Limits, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 1-18

Byman, D. Understanding the Islamic State. International Security, 40(4), 2016:127-165.

Hegghammer, T., “The Rise of Muslim Foreign Fighters: Islam and the Globalization of Jihad”, International Security 35, pp.53-94, 2011. 

The future of warfare, technology and war

Biddle, S., and Oelrich, I. (2016), Future Warfare in the Western Pacific Chinese Antiaccess/Area Denial, U.S. AirSea Battle, and Command of the Commons in East Asia, International Security, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 7–48

Calcara, A. et al (2022). Why Drones Have Not Revolutionized War: The Enduring Hider-Finder Competition in Air Warfare. International Security (46(4), 130-171.

Gilli, A., Gilli M. 2019, Why China Has Not Caught Up Yet. Military-Technological Superiority and the Limits of Imitation, Reverse Engineering, and Cyber Espionage. International Security, Vol. 43, No. 3 (Winter 2018/19), pp. 141–189

Goldfarb A., and Jon R. Lindsay (Prediction and Judgment. Why Artificial Intelligence Increases the Importance of Humans in War, International Security. 2022, 46(3).

Horowitz, M, Kreps, S. and Fuhrmann, M, “Separating Fact from Fiction in the Debate over Drone Proliferation” International Security, Vol. 41, No. 2 (Fall 2016).

Krepinevich, A. F. (2024) The origins of Victory. Yale University Press

Lanoska, A. (2016) Russian hybrid warfare and extended deterrence in eastern Europe, International Affairs, 92/1, 175–195

Lieber, K. A.  and Press, D. G. (2017), "The New Era of Counterforce: Technological Change and the Future of Nuclear Deterrence," International Security, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 9–49.

Cybersecurity

Calderaro A., and Anthony J. S. Craig (2020): Transnational governance of cybersecurity: policy challenges and global inequalities in cyber capacity building, Third World Quarterly. 

Gartzke, E. The Myth of Cyberwar Bringing War in Cyberspace, International Security, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Fall 2013), pp. 41–73, Back Down to Earth

Jense, B., Valeriano, B., Maness, N. (2019), Fancy bears and digital trolls: Cyber strategy with a Russian twist, Journal of Strategic Studies, 42(2), 212-234

Fragile states, wars and organised crime

Andreas, P., (2004) “The Clandestine Political Economy of War and Peace in Bosnia”, 2004, International Studies Quarterly, 48, 29-51 

Trejo, G. and Ley, S. (2019) “High-Profile Criminal Violence: Why Drug Cartels Murder Government Officials and Party Candidates in Mexico” British Journal of Political Science, 1-27

Newman, E. (2009) “Failed States and International Order: Constructing a Post-Westphalian World”, Contemporary Security Policy, 30/3, pp. 421-443.

Snyder, R., Duran-Martinez, A. (2009), “Does illegality breed violence? Drug trafficking and statesponsored protection rackets”, Crime, Law and Social Change, Vol. 52/3, pp 253-273.

The case of Italian defense 

F. Coticchia and M.Mazziotti di Celso,  (2024) “Still on the same path? Italian foreign and defence policy in the Enlarged Mediterranean”, Mediterranean Politics, 2024.

Carati, A., and Locatelli, A. (2017), 'Cui prodest? Italy’s Questionable Involvement in Multilateral Military Operations Amid Ethical Concerns and National interest', International Peacekeeping, 24(1): 1–22. 

Coticchia, F. and F.N. Moro (2020) "From enthusiasm to retreat. Italy and military missions abroad after the Cold War”, IPS - Italian Political Science, 15 (1), 2020

Coticchia F., and M.Ceccorulli (2015), Multidimensional threats and military engagement. The case of the Italian intervention in Libya”, , Mediterranean Politics, 20(3), 303-321.

V.Vignoli and F.Coticchia, (2022) “Italy’s military operation abroad (1945-2020): trends, data, and pattern”, International Peacekeeping, 29(3) 436-462.

Here more info on publications on Italian defense: https://www.italiandefence.org/pubblicazioni/

Public opinion, strategic narratives, and military operations

Catanzaro, A. and Coticchia, F. "The fog of words. Assessing the problematic relationship between strategic narratives, (master) frames, and ideology", Media, War & Conflict, 2022, Vol. 15(4) 427–449

Coticchia, F., “Effective strategic narratives? Italian public opinion and military operations in Iraq, Libya, and Lebanon”, Italian Political Science Review/Rivista Italiana di Scienza Politica, 1, 2015, pp.1-26.

Klarevas, L. “The Essential Domino of Military Operations: American Public Opinion and the Use of Force”, International Studies Perspectives, 3(4), 417-437, 2002.

Decline of war?

Azar Gat, (2012), “Is war declining – and why?”, Journal of Peace Research, 50(2) 149-157

Azar Gat et al (2025,) “Is the decline of war a delusion? An exchange between researchers following the publication of Azar Gat’s article on the subject”

Fazal, T.M. (2014) “Dead wrong? Battle deaths, military medicine, and exaggerated reports of war’s demise”, International Security, 39(1), 95-125

Sipri Annual Report (Summary) 

A new defense paradigm in Europe

Biddle and Hammes, “Out of the trenches”, Foreign Affairs, 2023

Bunde, T. (2022): Lessons (to be) learned? Germany’s Zeitenwende and European security after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Contemporary Security Policy.

Coticchia, F. Di Giulio, M., "What makes paradigms last? A Study of Defense Policy Change in Germany and Italy (1989-2022)”, Journal of European Public Policy, forthcoming

Coticchia, F. Muddling through? Defense policy paradigms after the war in Ukraine between transformation and readjustment: the case of Italy." International Politics, forthcoming

Giegerich, B., & Schreer, B. (2023) Zeitenwende One Year On, Survival, 65:2, 37-42

Massie J., & Munier, M. (2024). From Counterterrorism to Deterrence: The Evolution of Canada's and Italy's Defense Postures, Politics and Governance, Vol.12, 1-20.

Mello, P.A. (2023). Zeitenwende: German Foreign Policy Change in the Wake of Russia's War Against Ukraine. Politics and Governance, Vol.12, 1-17.

Peace research, critical security studies and human security

Amouyel, A., “What is Human Security?”, Revue de Sécurité Humaine / Human Security Journal – 1/2006 

Johan Galtung, “Violence, Peace, and Peace Research,” Journal of Peace

Research, vol. 6, no. 3 (1969): 167-191.

Roland Paris, “Human Security: Paradigm Shift or Hot Air?” International

Security, vol. 26, no. 2 (2001): 87-102.

Krause, K. (1998) Critical Theory and Security Studies, Cooperation and Conflict, 33(3), 298-333

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Second semester. March 2026. See Aulaweb additional info

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Students have the possibility to obtain additional points by presenting in classes scientific papers or also describing movies and TV series related to security issues. The (oral) exam will assess the acquired knowledge in the field of security studies, evaluation the students’ skills in addressing specific security issues.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The  exam allows assessing the student’s capability in interpreting different security scenarios and actors.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The course contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda 2030:

Goal 4: Quality Education

Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School's contact person for disability at the beginning of teaching to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns. Contacts of the School's disability contact person can be found at the following link Comitato di Ateneo per l’inclusione delle studentesse e degli studenti con disabilità o con DSA | UniGe | Università di Genova