(DES335) -  ΦΩΤΕΙΝΗ ΑΣΔΕΡΑΚΗ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ ΜΑΡΚΟΖΑΝΗ

Περιγραφή Μαθήματος

Το μάθημα δημιουργήθηκε στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος Erasmus+ KA2 https://www.eusecure.org/

Γλώσσα διδασκαλίας: Ελληνικά και Αγγλικά

 

Course Description

In recent years, the world has been experiencing significant changes, novel threats, and unforeseen challenges, from the transformation of the world order into a multi-polar system to the rise of new and re-emerging actors. As a global power, the EU can and should play a pivotal role in this increasingly securitized environment, and EU citizens must become acquainted with this new reality. Across Europe, decision-makers are confronted with an expanding set of challenges in the areas of security, resilience, and sustainability. These stem from both long-standing issues such as climate change and global warming, and emerging risks including cyber threats and attacks, alongside increasing public expectations for greater transparency and access to reliable information. The aim of the course is to train students to be able to respond to the complex challenges of rapidly developing societies in a learner-centered environment. Critical thinking, as well as the understanding of European values, will be an important pedagogical objective of the project through participatory structures and transformative education. This course examines newly emerged and re-emerging security challenges and trends, the role and responses the EU should adopt as a global actor, and the ways in which we can build more sustainable and resilient societies.

The course consists of interconnected weekly topics: 3 core ones such as EU as a global power (power - strategic autonomy) in a multipolar world, Megatrends and International governance multilateral institutions, norms, regimes); seven additional ones, respectively on International migration; Cyber security and the risks of AI; Social media issues and fake news; Water security and water geopolitics; Sustainability, resilience and development; International development cooperation; Energy Security; as well as classes on Climate security and Maritime security and the EU.

Competences to be achieved:

Knowledge:

• Identify the characteristics of EU power and the concept of resilience and strategic autonomy;
• Distinguish between the main institutions regarding the EU CFSP and those that are key to the EU Security;
• Summarize the underlying and long-term developments - megatrends - (societal, economic, geopolitical, technological) that are key to the thorough understanding of the world we live in;
• Explain the key elements of global governance and world security; international governmental organizations and ‘regimes’; and the European Union as a regional governance structure;
• Explain the policy choices made by the EU institutions for the control of migration flows;
• Summarize the ethical, legal, technological and decision-making aspects of cybersecurity and the risks of AI;
• Identify threats linked to EU water security (floods, droughts and water scarcity) and maritime security;
• Offer an overview of the factors (technological advancements, the transformation of news production, individuals’ need for structuring society and exchanging and organising information, slow legislation) which may prompt the spread of fake news;
• Summarize the main principles of sustainability and development, environmental protection and climate change in the EU;
• Identify the role of the EU in international development cooperation;
• Outline the conceptual framework of humanitarian aid and security developed by the EU.

Capabilities:

• Be able to explain the functioning of the EU in general and its institutional structure and decision-making in particular, related to security issues;
• Analyse and formulate arguments with respect to the processes of European security;
• Develop a critical approach to EU external security challenges and the way of tackling them;
• Be able to form coherent and realistic proposals for the future of CFSP/CSDP;
• Map the areas of future challenges to EU security;
• Use knowledge in relation to the future international role of the EU;
• Be able to make responsible choices during simulation exercises

Evaluation

Students are expected to submit a policy brief of 2500 words (80% of the grade) at the end of the semester and present their research in class (20% of the grade).  

Note: All policy briefs will be uploaded in the e-class. E-class uses the Turnitin system for checking against plagiarism and the use of AI. 

Handbook

The course content is based on the program's handbook: Molnár, A., Jakusné Harnos, E., Szente-Varga M. eds. (2023). Security, Resilience and Sustainability of the European Union. Published by the University of Public Service Ludovika University Press. 
Students can find the course's handbook in the E-class Documents rubric.

 

Course content / Teaching Modules

1. The EU as a Global Security Actor and the European Strategic Autonomy

- Biscop, S. (2020). Strategic choices for the 2020s (Security Policy Brief No. 122). Egmont Institute. https://www.egmontinstitute.be/content/uploads/2020/02/SPB122.pdf?type=pdf

- European Council. (2022). A strategic compass for security and defence. Council of the European Union. https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-7371-2022-INIT/en/pdf

- Helwig, N. (2020). EU strategic autonomy: A reality check for Europe's global agenda (FIIA Working Paper 119/2020). Finnish Institute of International Affairs. https://www.fiia.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wp119_strategic_autonomy-2.pdf

- Tocci, N. (2021). European strategic autonomy: What it is, why we need it, how to achieve it. Istituto Affari Internazionali. https://www.iai.it/en/publications/c09/european-strategic-autonomy-what-it-why-we-need-it-how-achieve-it

 

2. Megatrends: The EU Response to Global Developments

- European Commission, Foresight Report 2025, https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/strategic-foresight/2025-strategic-foresight-report_en

- Garretsen, H., Kitson, M., & Yang, C. (2025). Global forces and local impacts: megatrends in regional development. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/items/87df50a3-cebd-421c-abad-3d59db784591

- Jordan, J. Political and social trends in the future of global security. A meta-study on official perspectives in Europe and North America. Eur J Futures Res 5, 11 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40309-017-0120-x

- European Strategy and Policy Analysis System. (2024). Global trends to 2040: Choosing Europe's future. https://www.espas.eu/files/espas_files/about/ESPAS-Global-Trends-to-2040-Choosing-Europes-Future-EN.pdf

- Önnered, S., Komazec, K., & Elvin, M. (2026). Emerging grand challenges and megatrends for the future of Europe. Journal of Futures Studies, 30(3). https://jfsdigital.org/2026-2/vol-30-no-3-march-2026/emerging-grand-challenges-and-megatrends-for-the-future-of-europe/

 

3. The Securitization of Migration and the EU Approach

- Ceccorulli, M. (2019). Back to Schengen: The collective securitisation of the EU free-border area. West European Politics, 42(2), 302–322.

- Kinacioglu, M. (2023). Militarized governance of migration in the Mediterranean. International Affairs, 99(6), 2423–2441. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiad232

- Léonard, S., & Kaunert, C. (2022). The securitisation of migration in the European Union: Frontex and its evolving security practices. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 48(6), 1417–1429. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2020.1851469

- Asderaki, F. & Markozani, E. (2021). The securitization of migration in 2015 refugee crisis: From words to actions. In A. Tziampiris & F. Asderaki (Eds.), The new eastern Mediterranean. Springer.

 

4. Cyber Security and the Risks of AI

- Council of the European Union. (n.d.). EU cybersecurity: Strategy and key policies. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/cybersecurity/

- European Commission. (n.d.). A European approach to artificial intelligence. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/european-approach-artificial-intelligence

- European Commission & High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. (2020). Joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council: The EU's cybersecurity strategy for the digital decade (JOIN(2020) 18 final). EUR-Lex.

- Latici, T. (2019). Cyber: How big is the threat? European Parliamentary Research Service. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2019)637980

- Serini, F. (2024). Collective cyber situational awareness in EU: A political project of difficult legal realisation? Computer Law & Security Review, 55, Article 106055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2024.106055

 

5. Social Media Issues and Fake News

- Ang, B., Anwar, N. D., & Jayakumar, S. (2021). Disinformation & fake news: Meanings, present, future. In S. Jayakumar, B. Ang, & N. D. Anwar (Eds.), Disinformation and fake news. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5876-4_1

- Casero-Ripollés, A., Alonso-Muñoz, L., & Moret-Soler, D. (2025). Spreading false content in political campaigns: Disinformation in the 2024 European Parliament elections. Media and Communication, 13, Article 9525. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.9525

- Coli, M. (2026). The role of the European Union in protecting democracy through legislation: The case of disinformation. European Papers. https://www.europeanpapers.eu/e-journal/role-european-union-protecting-democracy-through-legislation-case-disinformation

- Proto, L., Lamoso-González, P., & García, L. B. (2025). The EU's FIMI turn: How the European Union External Action Service reframed the disinformation fight. Media and Communication, 13, Article 9474. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.9474

 

6. Sustainability, Resilience and Development Cooperation

- European Commission. (n.d.-a). EU approach to SDGs implementation. https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/sustainable-development-goals/eu-approach-sdgs-implementation_en

- European Commission. (n.d.-b). The Global Gateway strategy. https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/publications-library/global-gateway-strategy_en

- Eurostat. (2026). Sustainable development in the European Union: Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context – 2026 edition. European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-flagship-publications/w/ks-01-25-064

- Heldt, E. C., & Meunier, S. (2026). The EU's Global Gateway initiative: The geopoliticization of development aid and foreign economic policy. Journal of European Integration, 48(6), 901–921. https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2026.2716369

 

7. Climate Security

- European External Action Service. (2024). Addressing the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation on peace, security and defence. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/addressing-impacts-climate-change-and-environmental-degradation-peace-security-and-defence_en

- European Commission & European External Action Service. (2025). Navigating peace in a changing climate: Climate security trend analysis. https://fpi.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2025-02/Climate%20Security%20Trend%20Analysis%201102.pdf

- Rothe, D., Hentschel, C., & Schröder, U. (2025). Recomposing the climate-security nexus: A conceptual introduction. Geoforum, 159, Article 104195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2024.104195

von Lucke, F., Wellmann, Z., & Diez, T. (2014). What's at stake in securitising climate change? Towards a differentiated approach. Geopolitics, 19(4), 857–884. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2014.913028

 

8. Water Security and Water Diplomacy

- Álvarez Arcá. (2024). EU water diplomacy: A tool to strengthen the EU's soft power on environmental governance. Global Policy. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384142862_EU_water_diplomacy_A_tool_to_strengthen_the_EU%27s_soft_power_on_environmental_governance

- European Commission. (2025). European water resilience strategy. https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/european-water-resilience-strategy_en

- European Environment Agency. (2024). Europe's state of water 2024: The need for improved water resilience (EEA Report No. 07/2024). https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/europes-state-of-water-2024

- Schunz, S., & Topcuoglu, E. (2023). A European Union "water diplomacy"? Frames of water in EU external action. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, 19(2), 340–375. https://cadmus.eui.eu/server/api/core/bitstreams/cdad95a5-031f-50b2-93e3-94ba06bf2a2a/content

 

9. The EU and the Geopolitics of Energy

- Dennison, S., & Zerka, P. (2022). Tracking Europe's energy security: Four lessons from the EU's new energy deals. European Council on Foreign Relations. https://ecfr.eu/article/tracking-europes-energy-security-four-lessons-from-the-eus-newenergy-deals/

- European Commission. (2022, March 8). REPowerEU: A plan to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition [Press release]. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_22_3131

- Guarascio, D., Reljic, J., & Zezza, F. (2025). Energy vulnerability and resilience in the EU: Concepts, empirics and policy. Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, 52, 683–726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40812-025-00340-9

- LaBelle, M. C. (2024). Breaking the era of energy interdependence in Europe: A multidimensional reframing of energy security, sovereignty, and solidarity. Energy Strategy Reviews, 52, Article 101314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2024.101314

 

10. Maritime Security: Contemporary Challenges and EU Responses

- Bueger, C. (2015). What is maritime security? Marine Policy, 53, 159–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2014.12.005

- Bueger, C., & Edmunds, T. (2023). The European Union's quest to become a global maritime-security provider. Naval War College Review, 76(2), 67–86. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48735674

- European Commission. (n.d.). EU Maritime Security Strategy action plan. https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/maritime-security/maritime-security-strategy_en

- European Commission, & High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. (2023). Joint communication on the update of the EU Maritime Security Strategy and its action plan: An enhanced EU Maritime Security Strategy for evolving maritime threats (JOIN/2023/8). https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/publications/joint-communication-update-eu-maritime-security-strategy-and-its-action-plan-enhanced-eu-maritime_en

- Larsen, J. (2024). Maritime security: How geopolitics hardens threat patterns at sea and challenges known solutions. Danish Institute for International Studies.

 

11. Writing a Policy Brief

- Lowe, D., & Holbrook, C. (2025). How to write policy briefs. Public Humanities, 1, Article e98. https://doi.org/10.1017/pub.2025.5

- World Bank. (n.d.). Developing policy briefs. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/e325f4a236440853757892321dc84413-0320012024/original/D2S4-DevelopingPolicyBriefs.pdf

 

12. Students' Presentations

 

 

Ημερομηνία δημιουργίας

Κυριακή 25 Σεπτεμβρίου 2022