IR434 Half Unit
European Defence and Security
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Spyridon Economides
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in European and International Politics and Policy, MSc in European and International Politics and Policy (LSE and Bocconi), MSc in European and International Politics and Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in International Affairs (LSE and Peking University), MSc in International Relations, MSc in International Relations (LSE and Sciences Po) and MSc in International Relations (Research). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
All International Relations (IR4) optional courses at LSE are Controlled Access and require an application via LfY. Students must include a statement in their LfY application of no more than 200 words explaining their interest in the course and its relevance to their academic and career goals.
Application deadline: 12:00 noon, Friday 26 September 2025.
Notification of outcome: by 12:00 noon, Monday 29 September 2025.
After this date, students should consult the MSc Course Availability Spreadsheet for remaining spaces on IR4-level courses.
For further details, see the LSE Selecting Courses webpage in the first instance or contact IR.Programmes@lse.ac.uk only if necessary.
All students are required to obtain permission from the Teacher Responsible by completing the online application on LSE for You. Admission is not guaranteed.
This course has a limited number of places (it is controlled access). In previous years we have been able to provide places for most students who apply but that may not continue to be the case.
Course content
This course examines the role of defence and security issues in European integration. It traces the evolution and nature of decision-making with respect to European defence initiatives, and examines the structures and institutions of EU defence and security. It also seeks to understand the relationship between foreign policy and security/defence policy in the EU especially in the context of transatlantic relations, and NATO, and the EU's wider international role. The course examines defence and security issues in European integration, as well as addressing the question of defence and European identity, the relationship between European defence and the national objectives of Member-States, the link between collective defence and collective security, and the role of defence in the EU's evolution as a civilian, normative and global actor in international relations. The course also examines the relationship between NATO and European security concerns, and more contemporary developments with regard to provisions for crisis management and conflict prevention.
Teaching
15 hours of seminars and 10 hours of lectures in the Winter Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
Formative assessment
Students will produce either a formative essay of 2000 words or a timed essay of 1200 words in the WT.
Both formative and timed essays enable students to engage critically with key readings and receive feedback to support their preparation for the summative e-Exam. The timed essay also offers practice in writing under exam conditions as preparation for the summative e-Exam.
Indicative reading
- Anne Deighton (Ed), Western European Union: Defence Security Integration;
- Andrew Cottey, Security in the New Europe;
- Jolyon Howorth, Security and Defence Policy in the European Union;
- Simon Duke, The Elusive Quest for European Security;
- From EDC to CFSP;
- Paul Gebhard, The United States and European Security;
- Heather Grabbe, The Sharp Edges of Europe;
- Francois Heisbourg et al, European Defence: Making it Work;
- Sean Kay, Nato and the Future of European Security;
- G Rees Wyn, The Western European Union at the Crossroads;
- Stanley Sloan, The United States and European Defence;
- Panos Tsakaloyannis, The European Union as a Security Community (1996).
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period
The exam will be an on campus 'e-Exam'.
Key facts
Department: International Relations
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 48
Average class size 2024/25: 16
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.