Module description
The COVID-19 crisis has shown how a pandemic can result in dramatic and catastrophic consequences on human health, as well as wider measures of international, national and human security such as economic activity, education, international diplomacy and societal cohesion. Whilst the COVID crisis has been a strategic shock, it was neither unforeseen nor unprecedented. Governments have responded to the crisis by mobilising all elements of national power, indeed many commentors have observed this to be 'like a war'. Prior events such as the 2014-16 Ebola epidemic, the 2003 US Anthrax Attacks, and the use of chemical weapons in Syria all illuminate the complex interdependencies of health sciences, health systems and security infrastructures in the protection of global populations from non-military threats to security.
This module will place health sciences and health security in the context of international relations and security studies. It will examine how health threats including those arising from the prosecution of conflict (explosive remnants of war, cyber attacks, enduring mental distress) feature in risk analyses from a variety of perspectives, including the impact of insecurity and conflict on all dimensions of health (physical, psychological, and social) and health services. It will consider how health sciences and health systems mitigate these risks including the interface between these and wider security capabilities. The interrelations between biomedical innovation, emerging threats and evolving security paradigms will be considered as we reflect upon the future entanglements of health, biomedicine and war. Given the special and sensitive nature of biomedical research and military capability, the moral and ethical dimensions of the topic will also be reviewed.
Assessment details
500-word reflection on experience of group work (15%)
2500-word blog on designated topic (85%)
Educational aims & objectives
The aims of the module are to:
- Develop a systematic understanding of interdependent concepts from the fields of international relations and security studies as they relate to the analysis of global health security, health science(s), and war.
- Familiarize students with foundational concepts underlying health security threats, and mitigation approaches through allied science and security capabilities.
- Provide a framework for the original analysis of the historical and contemporary role of health sciences in the advancement of strategic objectives driven by security agendas.
- Explore the role of health sciences in the development of national and supra-national capabilities encompassing defence, healthcare and other critical national infrastructures.
- Foster the capacity of critical analysis, independent judgement, and communication at a level commensurate with taught postgraduate study.
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:
- Understand the significance of health risks within international, national, and human security paradigms.
- Describe the first, second, and third order impacts of insecurity and conflict on health, and vice versa.
- Analyse the contribution of health sciences, health systems and health services to protecting and mitigating health risks and responding to the health consequences of insecurity and conflict, and vice versa.
- Interpret the implications of the COVID crisis on security and defence by reference to historical examples and contemporary analysis.
- Practice a range of intellectual, practical and transferable skills through identification of sources, reading, critical analysis, and communication both in written and oral formats.
Teaching pattern
10 hours of lectures. 10 hours of seminars. One external visit. Expected self-study 130 hours to include reading, review of additional online lectures, and other material.