Under the aegis of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, the Symbiosis School of International Studies (SSIS) has been awarded the Jean Monnet module themed – European Union and the Human Security Paradigm (EUHSP). The Jean Monnet Modules are teaching courses in the field of European Studies aimed to create interest in the European Union and constitute the basis for poles of European knowledge.
The EUHSP endeavours to explore the interplay between the human security paradigm and EU actions under the following sections of the European Union Global Strategy (EUGS)- security and defence, building societal resilience at home and abroad, public diplomacy, integrated approach to conflict and crisis, cooperative regional orders and rules-based governance.
The current Covid-19 crisis has further emphasized the human security dimension and has presented both challenges and opportunities for the EU to leverage the advantage of its core principles of solidarity and humanism through actions at home and abroad.
The EUHSP module is embedded in the courses like – Area Studies- Europe and US elective, IR theories and key concepts, Human Rights and Peace Studies, Global Common Goods, International Security, and others, offered under the two-year Master of Arts programme by the Symbiosis School of International Studies (SSIS).
Symbiosis School of International Studies (SSIS), since its inception, has worked towards creating a sustainable learning space for the next generation of political and social scientists, commentators, researchers, practitioners, etc. while emphasising a multidisciplinary and holistic approach in all its activities. A crucial contributor to this endeavour has been the MA International studies programme that the Centre offers to 40 students each year. A Master's programme in International Studies encourages students to relate theoretical concepts to specific, relevant world issues and challenges in international affairs today.
The holistic nature of courses offered under the M.A. (International Studies) programme provides students with the lens to critically examine, analyse and understand contemporary issues basedon a multi-disciplinary approach. The specialization offered under the course on Area Studies fosters scholarship of the region informed by a deeper understanding of an interconnected and interdependent world. The choice of regions offered includes - Europe/United States and Asia.
The proposed module on Human Security Paradigm represents a very prominent aspect of security and international studies while also providing context on certain political rhetoric, especially in the contemporary global scenario. The resonance between the fundamental dimensions of human security and core EU values along with the Union’s influence as a key global actor only further makes the case for the establishment of the module.
The module also delves deeper into understanding and fostering dialogue amongst various actors involved across different levels of policymaking. This is a crucial aspect of the module content as the notion of security has changed in the post-cold war period, shifting focus from inter-state conflicts to state conflicts and more recently to individuals.
This presents a multifaceted idea that can be analysed in various contexts thus increasing the scope of discussion as well as the actors involved. With the EU as the central and the primary case study for discussions, the module aims to bring forth the sui-generis dimensions of EU policy- making and generate insights and research on the same, along with a comparative view within the context of the globalised world.
