Course syllabus Gender, Security and War

Accepted to the Master's Programme in Politics and War. For freestanding course: Bachelor of Science Degree in Military Studies or Bachelor's degree worth 180 credits, of which 90 credits are in war studies or equivalent.

This course focuses on the field of Feminist Security Studies, which explores the relationships between gender (and other intersecting oppressions, such as race) and security. It asks questions about the gendered nature of security and war, both in terms of how gender norms shape war and security as well as how war and security in turn reshape gender norms. To introduce student to this body of feminist literature, the course focuses on four main areas: How have feminists and other critical scholars challenged what security means or should mean? What happens when we study political violence while also paying attention to femininities and masculinities? What do we find out about conscription, privatization, or civil-military relations when we ask feminist questions about soldiers and militaries? How has feminist activism, exemplified in the adoption of the so-called women, peace & security agenda at the United Nations, changed global security environments? Students will learn the tools to carry out their own analyses of security and war from a gender perspective. The course illustrates the theoretical discussion through practical examples taken from feminist research on current violent conflicts around the world. Instruction includes lectures and mandatory seminars.

Type of Instruction
Seminars

Lectures

After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• explain how conceptions of gender affect security and war, with a particular focus on how gender norms shape institutions and practices and how these, in turn, affect gender norms.

Competence and skills

• critically evaluate key arguments and statements from the feminist literature on security and war;
• analyze and problematize contemporary wars and warfare by applying feminist perspectives.

Examination
Scope: 7.5

Grading Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction

Assessment takes place through active and constructive participation in mandatory seminars and an independent written assignment.

The examiner may decide to allow submission of a supplementary assignment to make up for an absence orshortcomingsin active and constructive participation in mandatory seminars. After announcement of the supplemental task, the student hasthree working daysforsupplementation, unlessspecialcircumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.

The examiner may decide to allow supplementation in order to achieve a passing grade. Examination paperssubmitted after the deadline will not be graded unlessspecialcircumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner. After announcement of the supplemental task, the student hasthree daysforsupplementation, unlessspecialcircumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.

If a student has a decision from the Swedish Defence University regarding special educationalsupport due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.

Grading
Grades are set according to a three-grade scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass(G) and Fail (U). Grading criteria are specified by no later than the start of the course.

To earn the grade Pass(G), the student must earn a grade of Pass on the written assignment, actively and constructively participate in the mandatory seminars, and earn a grade of Pass on the oral presentation.

To earn the grade Pass with Distinction (VG), the student must earn a grade of Pass with Distinction on the written assignment, actively and constructively participate in the mandatory seminars, and earn a grade of Pass on the oral presentation.

Restrictions in Number of Examinations 
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.

When a course is no longer provided or when the content of a course has been significantly altered, the student has the right to be examined in accordance with this course syllabus once per semester over a period of three semesters.

The course cannot be part of a degree with other course whose content matches the content of this course in whole or in part.

The course is given as an elective course within the Master's Programme in Politics and War. It can also be given as a freestanding course. The course may be given in whole or in part in English.

If a student has a decision from the Swedish Defence University on special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.

On the completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director, which will form the basis for any changes to the course.

This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.