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Lecturer(s)
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Course content
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1. Security, Security Policy and Security Studies 2. Security Environment, Threats, Risks and the Threat Analysis for the Czech Republic 3. National and Security Interests, Power and Instruments of Security Policy 4. Strategic Thinking and Security Policy Formulation 5. Constitutional and Legal Framework for Ensuring the Security of the Czech Republic 6. Security System of the Czech Republic and Its Main Actors 7. Security Strategy of the Czech Republic and the System of Strategic and Policy Documents 8. Security Councils, Crisis Staffs and Civil Preparedness 9. International Security System and the Use of Armed Force 10. NATO, the European Union and the Position of the Czech Republic in the European Security Architecture Study materials, academic, legal, strategic and policy documents, and additional resources related to individual topics are made available to students through LMS Moodle.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Group work
- Semestral Work
- 20 hours per semester
- Preparation for the Exam
- 20 hours per semester
- Homework for Teaching
- 15 hours per semester
- Attendace
- 26 hours per semester
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Learning outcomes
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The course aims to provide students with a systematic foundation in state security policy and its theoretical, legal, institutional and strategic principles. Students are introduced to fundamental concepts of security studies, the security environment, threats and risks, national and security interests, security policy instruments, and the principles of strategic thinking. The course develops students' understanding of the constitutional and legal framework of Czech security, the structure and functioning of the national security system, the roles of its principal actors, and the functions of security councils, crisis staffs and civil preparedness. Attention is also paid to Czech strategic documents, the international security system, and the roles of the United Nations, NATO and the European Union. Emphasis is placed on applying acquired knowledge to security problem analysis, critically evaluating information sources, assessing possible courses of action, and formulating well-founded conclusions. The course also develops students' ability to adapt selected security topics for educational purposes appropriate to lower and upper secondary school pupils.
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Explain fundamental concepts, principles and selected theoretical approaches to security policy and apply them when interpreting a specific security problem. 2. Distinguish between threats, hazards, risks, exposure, vulnerability and capacity, and apply these concepts in a basic analysis of a security problem. 3. Interpret the fundamental principles and findings of the Threat Analysis for the Czech Republic and explain its significance for risk assessment, preparedness and national security policy. 4. Analyse a selected security problem in terms of relevant actors, interests, instruments, threats, risks and broader security implications. 5. Explain the relationship between national and security interests, strategic objectives, instruments and resources of security policy, and assess basic courses of action when addressing a model security problem. 6. Demonstrate an understanding of the constitutional and legal framework for ensuring the security of the Czech Republic and distinguish the principal roles and powers of constitutional authorities and public authorities. 7. Describe the structure of the Czech Republic's security system and explain the positions, principal responsibilities and mutual relationships of its main components. 8. Interpret the Security Strategy of the Czech Republic and other selected strategic and policy documents, and relate their objectives and priorities to specific security problems. 9. Explain the status, composition and principal responsibilities of the State Security Council, the Central Crisis Staff, and security councils and crisis staffs at regional and municipality with extended powers levels, and distinguish their advisory, operational, coordination and decision-making functions. 10. Explain the fundamental principles of the United Nations, NATO and the European Union in the field of security and connect the national and international dimensions of Czech security policy. 11. Adapt selected security policy content for educational purposes appropriate to the target group of pupils, formulate key educational messages and propose suitable methods of communicating them. 12. Critically evaluate the relevance and reliability of information sources and formulate professionally justified conclusions or recommendations concerning a selected security policy problem based on verified information and the analysis conducted.
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Prerequisites
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The course has no formal prerequisites. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of population protection, security threats and risks acquired during their previous studies. The course builds on a general awareness of social and public affairs and progressively develops students' ability to work with academic, legal and strategic documents, analyse security problems, identify their broader implications and formulate evidence-based conclusions.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Oral exam, Written exam, Seminar Work
Requirements for successful completion of the course: 1. Attendance at a minimum of 80% of seminars. 2. Preparation, presentation and successful completion of a group seminar assignment in the form of a security policy briefing addressing a selected security problem. 3. Successful completion of the examination. The seminar assignment is completed in groups of 3-4 students. Its purpose is to apply security policy knowledge to a specific problem, use relevant and verifiable information sources, identify key actors and relationships, assess possible courses of action, and formulate professionally justified conclusions. The seminar assignment also includes a brief educational adaptation of a selected security topic for lower or upper secondary school pupils. Students formulate key educational messages, propose appropriate ways of communicating them, and justify which specialised information should be retained, simplified or illustrated through practical examples. Assessment focuses on subject knowledge and accuracy, the quality of information sources, analytical and argumentation skills, justification of conclusions, the appropriateness and factual accuracy of the educational adaptation, and the active participation of group members. Examination: The examination consists of a written component and, depending on the result, an oral component. The written examination is conducted in person under the instructor's supervision and contains 30 multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer. - 28-30 points: A - 26-27 points: B - 24-25 points: C - 0-23 points: progression to the oral component of the examination Students awarded a grade of B or C in the written test may request an oral examination. During the oral examination, students draw a question from a list of topics published in advance. The final grade is determined based on overall performance in both the written and oral components. The written examination is conducted under the supervision of the instructor. Assessment criteria for the seminar assignment and examination requirements are communicated to students in advance. Approved accommodations for students with specific needs are respected throughout the assessment process. Detailed assessment criteria for the seminar assignment, examination topics, and organisational instructions are available in LMS Moodle.
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Recommended literature
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Adamec, Vilém; Řehák, David; Černá, Lenka. (2012). Základy organizace a řízení bezpečnosti v České republice. Ostrava.
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Danics, Štefan; Smolík, Josef; Strnad, Štěpán. (2024). Aspekty bezpečnostní politiky. Praha.
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Heffington, Steven; Oler, Adam; Tretler, David (eds.). A National Security Strategy Primer. Washington. 2019.
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Zeman, Petr (ed.). (2002). Česká bezpečnostní terminologie: výklad základních pojmů. Brno.
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