(q016) ethnic and political violence during the late 20th and early 21st centuries

The Master’s degree (MA) in Violence, Terrorism and Security is awarded to students who successfully complete six core taught modules/classes and the MA dissertation.

Course StructureStudents take 6 modules across 2 semesters. Students take 3 required core modules in the Autumn semester. Then students take 1 required core module and 2 elective modules in the Spring semester. Students complete a dissertation of no more than 15,000 words over the summer semester.

Core Modules

- PAI 7028 Violence, Terrorism, and Security (Autumn semester requirement): The concepts that are at the heart of this core module, "violence", "terrorism", and "security", can each have different meanings across time and at various political levels. There are also multiple approaches and ways to examine these phenomena. The central goals of this module are to provide an introduction to the various sets of literature in these areas and provide a grounding for the MA in Violence, Terrorism and Security. More specifically, this class will familiarize students with different concepts, approaches, and methods to the study of political violence, terrorism, low-intensity conflict, civil war, security among others. It is designed to provide an overview of these very important issues.

- PAI7051 Contemporary Security (Autumn semester requirement): In this module we will explore a range of contemporary issues and practices in international security politics. We will be drawing on both theoretical and empirical material to engage the shifting politics of security. This module address both ‘domestic’ and ‘international’ contemporary security issues and the ways in which these are increasingly connected in both theory and practice. Moreover, it will introduce students to the inter-disciplinary nature of engagements with security (from politics to geography to technology). Students will be introduced to the core concepts and differences between ‘traditional’ rationalist theories of security and the emergence and development of various critical studies in security. They will be offered tools to examine key contemporary issues in security that may include: sovereignty; uncertainty, the security dilemma and risk; non-proliferation and disarmament; war; migration and borders; surveillance and security; environmental security; poverty, food, and human security; gender and security; racism; among others. Students will therefore engage critically with the intersections of theory and practice, domestic and international, and state and human securities, and be able to understand contemporary transformations of security in relation to power, sovereignty, mobilities, and technology.

- HAP7001 Research Design (Autumn semester requirement): Research design is often equated with the term ‘methodology’. While often presented in complex ways, the importance of this can be put simply. Research design and methodology are about structuring your research in such a way that fellow academic researchers can have confidence in your findings. All researchers should therefore be able to tell, and where necessary justify to, their peers how they approached their research, how they set up the question of interest, and how they actually went about researching the topic and collecting the material which they will analyse. This module therefore has two key purposes. First it addresses fundamental issues such as the source of social scientific knowledge, the relation between scholarly research and social progress, and the possibility of eliminating bias in political analysis, both through a study of the philosophy of science and research, and through case studies of research in practice. Second, it develops students’ skills in research design through an examination of selected qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

- PAI 7007 Global Terrorism (Spring semester requirement): This module provides an advanced, multidisciplinary introduction to the phenomenon of terrorism and its study. We begin by engaging with the conceptual, ethical and political challenges associated with the idea of terrorism and consider how these lead to alternative forms of research, explanation and analysis. Specifically, we look at 'essentially contested' character of terrorism as a concept, then familiarise ourselves with the terms of that contestation with particular reference to the historical development of terrorism as a tactic; media and communication; the role of the state and state-society relations; and the politics of counterterrorism. Throughout, we a take a global view of our subject, situating patterns and perceptions of political violence within global and transnational processes. In doing so, we create opportunities to better understand their development and interrogate the role of cultural and social difference, particularly in reference to colonial legacies, 'Lone Actor' attacks, 'Suicide Terrorism', the evolution of transnational Islamic militancy and the resurgence of extreme right-wing violence. The course ends by looking at the Northern Irish Troubles and the Peace Process from the perspective of recent research on how terror campaigns end.

Elective Modules

Elective modules offer the chance to specialise in a particular area of interest, build on foundational knowledge, and develop focused expertise. Student must take two modules from the following list:

PAI7027 - Conflict Intervention
The module will evaluate the changing nature of intervention, from unilateral forceful intervention to multi-lateral intervention, to humanitarian intervention, and third party mediation. Focusing on state, intergovernmental and non-governmental actors’ interventions, it will look at various conflict intervention practices in all phases of conflict from conflict prevention to post-conflict peacebuilding.

PAI7030 - Global Political Economy
This module provides a themed examination of the changing politics of the world economy, through the lens of the sub/inter-discipline, known as International Political Economy. International Political Economy (IPE) has become the accepted academic term for the analysis of the exercise of economic power and the politics of economic policy and capitalist development placed in a global context. This module introduces students to theories and concepts in International Political Economy related to the exercise of power and authority. It then goes to analyse a number of key topics and issues relating to the power and politics of economic organization and management including: the future of United States supremacy; the politics of money and finance; theories of development; the politics and policy of economic development in developing countries; problems of underdevelopment; the politics of global civil society; the global politics of energy policy and climate change; and the political economy of environmental sustainability.

PAI7032 – Gender and Politics
This module analyses the link between gender, politics and democracy in a comparative context. It begins by discussing approaches to research gender in social science, and specifically in political science. The fundamental concept of political representation is adopted as the theoretical prism through which patterns of gender presence and interest representation are explored. Numerical, or ‘descriptive’ representation is taken as a starting point, and develops into discussions on the role of parties, electoral systems, and gender quotas in addressing women’s political under-representation in a global context. The contribution of women’s movements, state feminism and trans-national agencies in fostering gender democracy is also discussed. The module incorporates insights from current research on the subject by well-known scholars and offers an opportunity to students to study the subject in detail and to participate in the activities of the Centre for Advancement of Women in Politics.

PAI7050 - Ethnic Conflict and Consensus: the power of institutions
This module examines concepts of ethnicity, national identity, multiculturalism as they relate to contemporary conflict. Students will be provided with a detailed and critical analysis of the political and constitutional options in societies beset by ethnic conflict, with particular emphasis being given to mechanisms directed at and institutions involved in management of and accommodation after the conflict. By examining theories of ethnic conflict the module introduces students to issues underlying conflicts across the globe including nation building and rights of minorities, territorialisation of ethnicity, partition and secession management, and kin-state involvement as well as socio-political integration as mechanisms to avert and/or resolve ethnic conflicts. The module introduces students to debates about the construction and salience of ethnicity as a source of conflict. We conclude by critically examining how these debates inform approaches to ethnic conflict management and which implications they have for practical solutions of ethnic conflicts.

PAI7058 – From Cold War to Cold Peace: The Transformation of the International Order (1979-1999)
The Cold War: Historical and Political Science Explanations (The origins of the Cold War – traditional and revisionists schools of thought)
- The Bloc Formation & Structural Stability (Pacts – LTBT –NPT – SALT East-West Regime Formation)
- From Détente to the Second Cold War: The Empire of Evil ( CSCE – Re-armament – Euromissile Crisis - SDI – Periphery)
- Gorbachev’s ideology – The New Thinking (Change in Soviet ideology under Gorbachev)
- Soviet-US relations (Reagan, Bush and Gorbachev – from Reykjavik to Malta, INF, START, CFE )
- The Velvet revolutions in the Soviet bloc (From Brezhnev doctrine to Sinatra doctrine - collapse of Communism)
- Gorbachev and the German Questions, 1989-1991 (2+4, OSCE, troops status – Common House of Europe)
- The Dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and of the Soviet Union, 1990-1991 (The causes of the Soviet collapse & CIS formation)
- The Cold Peace 1991-1999 (NATO Enlargement – Russia-NATO Council, Yugoslavia)
- From Cold Peace to Frozen Conflicts, 1999-2015 (Responses to Western meddling in Post Soviet space under Putin. Coloured revolutions, August War with Georgia, the Ukraine crisis)

PHL7057 Social Injustice
This module examines the problem of social injustice in contemporary, plural societies. The first half of the module explores some of the main philosophical assessments of social injustice. Students will first be introduced to key critiques of liberal theory as a response to the structural disadvantages associated with difference (including race, gender, sexual-orientation, religion, and class, among others). Here, liberal policy approaches to difference (including toleration, uniform treatment, and non-discrimination), will be critiqued alongside liberal modes of justification for their failure to deal appropriately with the disadvantages suffered by affected groups.

The second half of the module discusses the practical implications of both social injustice and its potential solutions. Precise topics vary year-on-year, but may include discussion of some of the following questions: Is unfettered freedom of speech a necessary feature of or a hindrance in the fight for social equality? What role does historical injustice play in the ongoing oppression of marginalised groups? Is the recognition of difference the appropriate response to cultural domination? How has social media changed the shape of social justice movements? Is civil disobedience a legitimate response to injustice, and must it always be ‘civil’ in nature?

ANT7023 – Anthropology of Conflict
This module will explore the development of anthropological approaches to conflict, examining what social and cultural anthropologists have added to our knowledge of conflict. It will particularly examine issues of group identity and cohesion in relations to conflict. Examining theories of ethnicity and nationalism it will examine power and hegemony of the state. In relation to this there will be a focus upon aspects of remembering and social memory, on the use of rituals and symbols and of the way acts of violence are legitimised or delegitimised. The course will look at examples from Irish case studies but work on a comparative basis.

LAW7815 Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights
This module will explore issues arising out of the interplay between counter-terrorism and human rights. It will aim to enable students to engage in a critical examination of the concepts of terrorism, counter-terrorism, and the ‘war on terror’, to make an assessment of the concept of ‘security’ in politics and law, to explore the idea of the state of exception in politics and law, to participate in the torture debate in the context of the ‘ticking bomb scenario’, to analyse case law and literature on derogation, as well as qualification and circumvention of rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as well as other human rights instruments, and to consider the practice of extraordinary rendition and ongoing judicial responses to it.

LAW7816 Comparative Human Rights
This module will analyse and compare the world’s three main regional systems for the protection of human rights – those of Europe, Africa and the Americas. Its focus will be on what is distinctive, innovative and/or topical about each of the regional systems, with particular attention being paid to the effectiveness of the protection offered. Where appropriate the relationship with the UN’s human rights system will be considered.

The scope for cross-fertilisation of ideas and for increased efficiency will be explored, as will the degree to which local cultures and customs should be allowed to qualify the universalist principle concerning protection of human rights.

The potential for further development of regional systems for the protection of human rights will also be examined.

* Please note that this is an indication of the available elective modules in MA in Violence, Terrorism and Security. There may be other modules available to take, and in some years one or two of these may not be available (due to staff sabbatical, etc.).

Over the summer term students complete a 15,000 word MA dissertation

Some recent MA VTS dissertation topics have included:
• ISIS and discourses of violence
• Gender, agency, and terrorism
• UK counterterrorism policy
• Counterinsurgency and targeted assassinations
• Covert Intelligence and Collusion
• Cultures of Youth Violence
• Cyber-terrorism
• Gender and counterterrorism
• Light arms proliferations
• NATO expansion and Ukraine
• New Terrorism and ISIS
• Paramilitary recruitment
• Policing Private Military Companies and Africa
• Radicalisation and Recruitment
• Religious Diplomacy and Paramilitary movements
• Security and Development
• Security Sector Reform
• State power and the intelligence community
• Taliban, counterinsurgency, and narco-terrorism
• Transitions from terrorism: ETA and the IRA compared
• UK Government PREVENT policy
• US Counter-terrorism strategies
• US Domestic Terrorism

People teaching you

Programme Convenor

HAPP
Dr Andrew Thomson is a Senior Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast and a Fellow at the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. He is the convenor/director of the MA in Violence, Terrorism and Security and among the many staff that teach in this programme. His research interests include pro-government militias and civilian defence forces, dynamics of violence in civil war, counterinsurgency and "irregular" warfare, and state violence. Andrew is an expert on militias and mercenaries in US foreign policy. His book, Outsourced Empire: How Militias, Mercenaries and Contractors Support US Statecraft, examined various non-state armed forces in US-led interventions around the world. Andrew is also well-known for his work on civilian self-defence forces. He is interested in how using civilians as combatants or security forces in counterinsurgency settings, as in Iraq with the Sons of Iraq program, affect insurgent targets of violence. Finally, he also focuses on the current peace process in Colombia in the context of multiple armed groups. He recently completed a project funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund on how FARC members’ interactions with other armed organisations influenced their disarmament process. He is also on the governing council of the Conflict Research Society (CRS).

Senior Lecturer

HAPP
Dr Heather Johnson’s research focuses on irregular migration and asylum seekers, border security, and the practices of resistance, solidarity and protest of non-citizens. She is interested in developing new understandings of mobility and non-citizenship, and particularly in new methods for engaging with these issues. Email:

Lecturer

HAPP
Dr Jamie Hagen's research is at the intersection of gender, security studies and queer theory. She researches LGBTQ inclusion in Women, Peace and Security practices as well as queer analysis of security studies more broadly. She is Co-Director of the Centre for Gender in Politics. Email:

Senior Lecturer

HAPP
Dr Keith Breen’s research areas are political and social theory, his focus being questions of political ethics and philosophies of work and economic organization. Email:

Lecturer

HAPP
Dr Maria Deiana's research deploys feminist and other critical perspectives to examine the interrelated issues of war, peace, security. Her monograph titled 'Gender and Citizenship: Promises of Peace in Post-Dayton Bosnia & Herzegovina' was published by Palgrave in 2018. She is Co-Director of the Centre for Gender in Politics. Email:

Reader

HAPP
Dr Mike Bourne’s research focuses on a wide range of security issues. He is interested in critical security theories, and the relations of materiality, technology, and violence. His work has engaged issues of arms control (from small arms to nuclear weapons), illicit trafficking, border control, and technology development. Email:

Senior Lecturer

HAPP
Dr Shane Brighton researches the field of relations between armed conflict, identity and society. He has written on the philosophy and sociology of war, terrorism and counterterrorism and contemporary strategic debates. This work has particular relevance for understanding how societal dynamics relate to armed forces and foreign, defence and security policy. Email:

Senior Lecturer

HAPP
Dr Timofey Agarin is interested in relationships between the state and society, interrelations between the majority and the minority, issues relating to non-discrimination in the wider Europe and the impact of European integration broadly conceived on societal change and dynamics in political institutions. Email:

Professor

HAPP
Professor Debbie Lisle’s research in critical International Relations and International Political Sociology explores issues of difference, mobility, security, travel, visuality, governmentality, biopolitics, materiality, technology, borders, practice and power. Email:

Professor

HAPP
Professor Richard English's research focuses on the politics and history of nationalism, political violence, and terrorism, with a particular focus on Ireland and Britain.

Introduction
The MA in Violence, Terrorism and Security provides you with the essential transferable skills and in-depth knowledge of theories and issues in the areas of violence, security, and terrorism for career development at any stage, from students straight from an undergraduate degree with limited to no prior professional experience to those seeking continued professional development. Our programme enables you to broaden your horizons providing you with a competitive edge in a global graduate market in a wide variety of areas such as the security sector, including intelligence agencies, government agencies and public office, the military, NGOs, academia, businesses and corporations, and the media among many other possibilities.

Some of our graduates now serve in the most senior ranks of a number of National Police Services, and Law Enforcement Agencies, Border and Immigration Control, National Armed Forces including the US Army, US Air Force, British Army and Irish Defence Forces. Graduates also work as senior government policy advisers, in international NGOs and the media.

Classes/modules involve a variety of teaching approaches designed to inspire critical and transferable skills.

There also are multiple talks, events, and extra-curricular activities and training courses on campus each year, outside of the formal VTS programme, that are related to Violence, Terrorism and Security.

Subject Specific Skills

Students will gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of political violence, terrorism, and security across many cases around the world. Students will be familiar with theoretical and empirical issues at different stages in the conflict cycle, including the outbreak, development, and resolution of armed civil conflicts and use of terrorism. Students will gain an understanding of, and be able to critically engage with, the main concepts in these fields (such as “terrorism”, “radicalisation”, “security”, “peace”, etc.), the main theories (such as the causes of terrorism, the dynamics of civil conflict, approaches to counter-terrorism), and some issues and debates (such as the trade-off between security and liberty inherent with some counterterrorism tactics).

Transferable Skills

Students will also acquire a series of transferable skills that can be applied in a variety of contexts and career pathways.

Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be able to reason critically; apply relevant theoretical concepts; identify and solve problems; analyse and interpret data; demonstrate and exercise independence of thought; work independently; participate constructively in groups; manage their time effectively and work to deadlines.

Students will also be able to retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources plan and execute a piece of independent research; devise viable research proposals; apply various different research methodologies and approaches; identify appropriate research techniques relative to overall research design; appreciate, and display an understanding of, comprehensive qualitative and quantitative research design.

Students are provided a range of assessment approaches, both formal and informal as well as formative and summative in order to enhance the student learning experience and improve student attainment. Each module typically consists of two or three main pieces of assessment, one worth 40% of your mark for that class/module and another worth 60%.

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