Course syllabus Total defence: Political Science Perspectives
Swedish name: Statsvetenskapliga perspektiv på totalförsvar
Course code:
2SS088
Valid from semester:
Autumn Term 2024
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
7.5 credits
Progression:
A1N
Grading scale:
Three-grade scale
Main field of study:
Political Science: Security Studies
Department:
Department of Political Science and Law
Subject:
Political Science
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Forsknings och utbildningsnämndens kursplaneutskott
Decision date:
2023-10-24
Entry requirements
180 credits approved courses, including an independent thesis consisting of 15 credits. English proficiency equivalent to English B or English 6 is also required.
Course content and structure
During the course the total defence is studied from different political science perspectives, in order to make it possible for the student to obtain advanced knowledge within the main area political science with a focus upon crisis management and security. Lectures and literature gives the student an ability to gain advanced knowledge of the perspectives dealt with during the course. The total defence can be viewed as an ambitious political and bureaucratic idea about how the public and private sectors should be organised during crisis and war. The course starts with an introductory lecture that establishes the legal and political foundation of the total defence. Each week of the course is centered on a theme, that is examined through a written memo. The themes may consider for example cooperation and conflict between the different parts of the total defence; different forms of resistance; everyday and crisis communication; bureaucratic mistakes and learning; institutional memory and change; or sustainability, gender and power relations between the different actors of the total defence. Each theme is examined through a written memo that is presented orally at a seminar. This allows for application and analysis of the perspectives presented during the course.
Seminars
Lectures
Independent Literature Studies
Type of Instruction
Seminars
Lectures
Independent Literature Studies
Objectives
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
Competence and skills
Judgement and approach
Knowledge and understanding
- demonstrate advanced knowledge about how different political science perspectives can be applied upon the total defence
Competence and skills
- independently analyse isses in relation to the total defence, using the concepts and theories introduced during the course
Judgement and approach
- independently problematise and critically discuss strengths and weaknesses with the total defence as a political and bureaucratic idea, considering relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects.
Examination formats
Total defence: Political Science Perspectives
Scope: 7.5
Grading Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction
The course is examined through five written memosthat are presented orally by the student, one percourse theme. Participation in five seminarsconstitute mandatory course requirements besides the examinations. One missed seminar may be complemented through an additional assignment.
The examiner can decide about a complementary task in order to achieve a pass. Late examinations are not graded unless approved by the examiner. The student has 3 working days to hand in the complementary assignment, unless otherwise approved by the examiner.
The student is graded on a three-point grading scale: Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with Distinction (VG). For G on the course, G is required on all 5 memos. For VG on the course, VG is required on 4 out of 5 memos. Active participation in seminars is a requirement for G. Grading criteria are reported at the latest at the start of the course.
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Scope: 7.5
Grading Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction
The course is examined through five written memosthat are presented orally by the student, one percourse theme. Participation in five seminarsconstitute mandatory course requirements besides the examinations. One missed seminar may be complemented through an additional assignment.
The examiner can decide about a complementary task in order to achieve a pass. Late examinations are not graded unless approved by the examiner. The student has 3 working days to hand in the complementary assignment, unless otherwise approved by the examiner.
Grading
The student is graded on a three-point grading scale: Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with Distinction (VG). For G on the course, G is required on all 5 memos. For VG on the course, VG is required on 4 out of 5 memos. Active participation in seminars is a requirement for G. Grading criteria are reported at the latest at the start of the course.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Transitional provisions
When the course is no longer offered or when the course content has changed substantially, the student has the right to be examined once per semester during a three-term period in accordance with this syllabus.
Other regulations
The course cannot be included in a degree with another course whose content fully or partially corresponds to the content of this course.
If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
The course director will conduct an evaluation on the completion of the course, 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.
If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
The course director will conduct an evaluation on the completion of the course, 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.