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Dr. ÖzlemAltıok’s Human Insecurity syllabus Spring 2018
HumanInsecurityintheTwenty-firstCentury: CasesfromAfrica, AsiaandEurope
INST 4850.003` Instructor: Dr. ÖzlemAltıok
Spring 2018 Office: GAB 468
MW 2.00-3.20 pm Email:
Classroom: GAB 310 Officehours: M 1-2 pm, andbyappointment
Picasso'sGuernica (1937)
CourseDescriptionandObjectives
Thiscourseexploresthesourcesofinsecuritysufferedbythemajorityofworld'speopleinthetwenty-firstcentury. Itisstructuredaroundsevenareasofhumansecurity: economic, political, food, environmental, health, communityandpersonalsecurity. Wewillcovercasesprimarily, thoughnotexclusively,fromAfrica, Asia, the CaribbeanandEurope.
GradingandAssignments:
Attendanceandparticipation: 10%
Presentation 10% due the last two weeks.
Twoquizzes: 20% (10pointseach)
Bookreview: 20% dueSunday, February 25, 2018.
Midterm: 20% onWednesday, March 7, 2018intheTestingCenterinSageHall 3rdfloor
Finalexam: 20% FinalonMay 7, 2018 1.30 - 3.30 pmintheTestingCenterinSageHall 3rdfloor
Gradingscale: Iwillusenumericalscores, whichwilltranslateintolettergradesasfollows:
A (91-100); B (81-90); C (70-80); D (60-69); F (<60)
**Pleasekeeprecordsofyourperformanceonassignments. Ionlycalculategradesonce: attheendofthesemester**
Expectationsandrequirements
1. Attendanceandparticipation 10%
Youmustattendclassregularly, andbeontime.Youshouldnotmissmorethantwoclasseswithoutalegitimateanddocumentedexcuse. Iftherearecircumstancesthatpreventyoufromregularparticipation (e.g. travelrelatedtoworkorafamilyemergency)talktomeearlyon, andwewillmakearrangements. Forinstance, Iwillaskthatyousubmitextraworktomakeupforwhatyoumiss.
Youshouldreadorviewtheassignedmaterialandbepreparedtoanswerquestionsinclass. Thedetailedscheduleofreadingsisattheendofthissyllabus.
2. Quizzes 20% (10pointseach, Quiz #1 onFebruary 7Quiz #2 onApril 4,bothinclass)
3. BookreviewofJasonStearns' DancingintheGloryofMonsters 20% (20 points)
Youshouldshowmethatyouhavereadthebook, butIdonotwantasummaryofthebook. Yourdiscussionofthecontentshouldbeintheformofacriticalreview. YoushoulddiscusshowthehumansecurityframeworkhelpedyouunderstandthestorytoldinDancingintheGloryofMonsters. Youcouldalsomakeexplicitreferencetoanysimilarcasescoveredinthisclass (e.g. RwandangenocideortheBosniangenocide). However, donotusephrasessuchas “aswelearnedinlectureonXday” or “asyousaidinclass...” Instead, addressyourreviewtoawideraudience. Ideally, youwouldwanttopublishyourreview. Whynot? Agoodreviewcontextualizesthebookwithinthelargerliterature (broaderquestions/issuesitaddresses) andusuallystatesthereviewers' assessmentoftheworkintheveryfirstparagraph. Hereisaresourcetohelpyouwriteagoodbookreview:
Suggested book review length: Between 1000 and 1500 words (2-3 single spaced pages).
4. MidtermExam 20% inSageHall 330 onWednesdayMarch 7,2018duringregularclasstime
5. FinalExam 20% inSageHall 330 onMay 7, 2018from 1.30 - 3.30 pm
OfficeHours
Iwillbeinmyoffice (GAB 468) between 1 and 2 pmonMondays. Alternatively, youcanemailmeforanappointment. Inaddition, ifyouemailmewithyourquestionsIwillanswerthemwithintwobusinessdays. Asageneralrule, donotwaituntilthelastdaytoaskmeaquestionaboutanassignmentorexam.
AcademicHonesty
Trustandhonestyarecentralforlearningtooccur, andIhopethatyoudonotneedareminderaboutthat. However, intheinterestofmakingexpectationsclearletmestatethatIwillnottolerateacademicdishonesty. Pleasebeawarethatyoucommitplagiarismifyou:
1)reproduceverbatim (oralmostverbatim) anotherauthor’swords, withoutusingquotationmarksand/orwithoutprovidingacitation; or
2)useanother'sideas (evenifyoudon’tusetheirprecisewords) withoutprovidingcitation.
IadheretoandenforceUNT’spolicyonacademicintegrity (cheating, plagiarism, forgery, fabrication, facilitatingacademicdishonestyandsabotage). Youshouldreviewthepolicy (UNTPolicyManualSection 18.1.16), whichmaybelocatedat Iwilladdressviolationsofacademicintegrityinthiscourseincompliancewiththepenaltiesandprocedureslaidoutinthispolicy. APPEALS: StudentsmayappealanydecisionunderthispolicybyfollowingtheprocedureslaiddownintheUNTPolicyManualSection 18.1.16 “StudentStandardsofAcademicIntegrity.”
DisabilityAccommodations
TheUniversityofNorthTexasmakesreasonableacademicaccommodationforstudentswithdisabilities. StudentsseekingaccommodationmustfirstregisterwiththeOfficeofDisabilityAccommodation (ODA) toverifytheireligibility. Ifadisabilityisverified, theODAwillprovideyouwithanaccommodationlettertobedeliveredtofacultytobeginaprivatediscussionregardingyourspecificneedsinacourse. Youmayrequestaccommodationsatanytime, however, ODAnoticesofaccommodationshouldbeprovidedasearlyaspossibleinthesemestertoavoidanydelayinimplementation. Notethatstudentsmustobtainanewletterofaccommodationforeverysemesterandmustmeetwitheachfacultymemberpriortoimplementationineachclass. FormoreinformationseetheOfficeofDisabilityAccommodationwebsiteat or call 940.565.4323.
UNTWritingLab
Ifwritingisnotyourforte,andyouwanttoproducewell-organized, well-writtenpapersforthisclassorothers (asyoushould) takeadvantageoftheWritingLaboncampus
Revisionstothissyllabus
ItisyourresponsibilitytoattendclassandtofollowBlackboardannouncementstokeepabreastofanychangestothereadingscheduleorassignments. PleaseforwardyourUNTemailaccounttotheemailaccountyoumostfrequentlyusetoensureyouarereceivingannouncements, tips, news, etc. thatIoccasionallysend. Imayrevisethescheduledependingonclassdiscussions, contemporarydevelopments, changesthatmightbenecessarytoaccommodateaguestlecturer'sschedule. Iwillgiveyounoticeofsuchchanges (ideally) severaldaysinadvance.
Requiredtexts
JasonStearns. 2011.DancingintheGloryofMonsters(purchase/borrowthisassoonaspossible)
Inaddition, severalbookchaptersandjournalarticleswillbepostedonBlackboard; thesearemarkedbya (Bb) onthelistbelow. Otherreportsandarticlescanbefoundusing thesearealsoindicatedbelow (findonline). Tolocaterequiredarticlespublishedinpeer-reviewedjournalsthatarenotreadilyavailableonline, youwillneedtousetheUNTLibrary'selectronicresources.
Recommendedtexts
Aili Mari Tripp, Myra Marx Ferree and Christina Ewig. 2014. Gender, Violence and Human Security. Available as an e-book via UNT Libraries.
AmartyaSen. 2012 [1999]. DevelopmentasFreedom.
FrancesMooreLappeetal. WorldHunger: TwelveMyths(thelatestedition)
Weeklyreadingsarelistedbelow. Pleasereadthemintheordertheyarelisted. UnlessIrequireitexplicitlyonthesyllabusorannounceotherwise, youarenotrequiredtoviewthefilmslistedatthebottomofeachweek'sreadingsonyourown. Iwillshowsomeoftheseinclass. Othersarethereassupplementalreference. Thatsaid, youareencouragedtoexploretheseandotherrelevantfilmsastheywillhelpyoulearn.
Cell phone policy
You should not be using cell phones during my class. I also do not want phones to be visible in class. As well, please put all phones on “mute” or “vibrate” mode at the beginning of class. If you are expecting an important call (childcare or health related) you may put your phone in your pocket. You may take calls if you have to (e.g. if you have children and are contacted by their caregiver during lecture). Notwithstanding these exceptions, I do not allow you to use (or even look at) your cell phone in my class.
WeeklyReadingSchedule
January 17 (W): Introductiontothecourse
Introduction to UNT library’s e-resources, explanation of expectations, etc.
January 22 (M): Theconceptofhumansecurity
TaylorOwen. 2004. “HumanSecurity: Conflict, CritiqueandConsensus.” SecurityDialogue. Findthe article usingUNT'sLibraryResources.
Aili Mari Tripp et al. 2014.Toward a Gender Perspective on Human Security in Gender, Violence and Human Security p. 3-32. (available as an e-book via the UNT library)
UN. 2009. HumanInsecurityIndex. Only skim this, and see the two figures in it. Availableat
January 29: Themultiplecausesofhumaninsecurity: the case of theDemocraticRepublicofCongo
KingLeopold'sGhost (selectedpagesonBlackboard, Bbfromnowon)
JohnKatungaMurhula. Minerals, ForestsandViolentConflictintheDemocraticRepublicofCongo. Availableonlineat
RaiseHopeforCongo. 2008. TenReasonswhyCongoistheMostDangerousPlaceonEarthforWomen.
Film: KingLeopold'sGhost (forrentonYouTube); TheGreatestSilence: RapeintheCongo (UNTVideoonDemand); Romero (VHSatUNTMediaLibrary)
February 5: Themultiplecausesofhumaninsecurity:the case ofHaiti
Quiz #1 Wed. February 7in class(ontheconceptofhumansecurity, andtheCongoandHaiticases)
BobCorbett'sarticle “WhyisHaitisoPoor?”
Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson. 2012.
BriefstoriesonHIVinHaiti
WomenandpovertyinHaiti
InternationalOrganizationforMigration. 2015. FiveYearsaftertheEarthquakeThousandsofHaitiansRemainDisplaced.
ReadaboutSOIL'sworkinHaitiat
February 12: Economic insecurity: Globalpoliticaleconomy andsocialinequality
World Economic and Social Survey. 2008. United Nations. Overview and Chapter 1 (pages 1-38)
JuliaWartenburg. 2010. WhatisWrongwiththeGDP? GlobalWomen'sProject.
February 19: Politicalinsecurity: political violence, civil conflict and genocide
JasonStearns. 2012. DancingintheGloryofMonsters, pages 3-32, 69-80, 93-134.
RwandanGenocide.
BosnianGenocide.
Optional reading on resource wars:
AnupShah. 2001. SierraLeone
BookReviewofDancingintheGloryofMonstersisdueviaTurnitinby11:59 pmonSunday, February 25. (20 points)
February 26: Humaninsecurityasadeterminantofterrorism (withanoteonstateterrorism)
RhondaCallawayandJulieHarrelson-Stephens. 2006. "TowardaTheoryofTerrorism: Humansecurityasadeterminantofterrorism." StudiesinConflictandTerrorism 29:773-796.
ZachBeauchamp. 2014. HowtheUS, itsalliesanditsenemiesallmadeISISpossible. Vox.
LorettaBass. 2014. “WhatmotivatesEuropeanyouthtojoinISIS?”
NoamChomsky. 2014. TheLeadingTerroristState
March 5: Terrorismandconsequences. MidtermonWednesday, March 7 inSageHallRm. 330
Syria'sRefugees: TheCatastrophe. 2013.
InternationalOrganizationforMigrationonthemagnitudeoftherefugeecrisisin 2015
P. Wood. 2014. "Yazidiwomentellofsex-slaverytrauma."
“UN: Yazidi genocide in Iraq still ongoing, unaddressed” Al Jazeera. 3 August 2017.
SPRINGBREAKMarch 12-18, 2018
March 19: Climatechange: Evidence, causesandeffects
JessicaTuchmanMatthews. 1989. “RedefiningSecurity” ForeignAffairs 68 (2): 162-177 (UNTLibrarye-resources)Skim this article for the main argument.
Somebasicsofglobalclimatechange: (exploretheFactstabatthetop)
FacingtheConsequences. TheEconomist.November 25, 2010
MariaMies. 1993. TheMythofCatchingUpDevelopment. InEcofeminism. MariaMiesandVandanaShiva (eds) (Bb)
ClimatechangehastenedSyria'scivilwar. 2015.
March 26: Climatechangeandgenderedeffects
PatriciaGlazebrook. 2011. “WomenandClimateChange: ACase-StudyfromNortheastGhana.” Hypatia 26(4): 762-782 (UNTLibrarye-resources)
Onclimatechangeandagriculture, 2012.
ClimateChangePolicyBrief. 2011. Downloadthebriefin .pdffrom:
April 2: Globalfoodinsecurity: Toomanymouthstofeed?
Quiz #2inclassonWednesday, April 4 (covering material covered after the midterm).
FrancesMoreLappe. 1998. “Myth 3: Toomanymouthstofeed” inWorldHunger (pages 25-40 onBb)
Seethetwelvemythsthatthebookdebunksat
OlivierDeSchutter. 2011. Agro-ecologyandtheRighttoFood. ReporttotheU.N. HumanRightsCouncilbytheSpecialRapporteuronFood (findthisonline)
April 9: Health, personalandcommunitysecurity
Amartya Sen (2015) on the “Affordable dream” of universal healthcare
DemocraticRepublicoftheCongo: thecountrythatknowshowtobeatEbola
TheDeadlyConsequencesofNicheAidinAfrica (findthisonyourownonline)
Rick Gladstone. The New York Times. November 16, 2017.
April 16: Human trafficking (and presentations starting Wednesday)
Monday: InternationalOrganizationforMigration. 2004. RevisitingtheHumanTraffickingParadigm: TheBangladeshExperiencePart 1. TraffickingofAdults. Readespeciallychapters 1, 4 and 6 (youcanfocusonflowchartsthroughoutthis 86-pagereport; theseeffectivelysumuptheargument)
EdithKinney. 2014. “SecuritizingSex, Bodies, andBorders: TheResonanceofHumanSecurityFramesinThailand’s ‘WaragainstHumanTrafficking’”InGender, ViolenceandHumanSecurityAiliMariTripp. etal. (eds.) (Thechapter, andtheentirebookareavailablethroughtheUNTLibrary)
Wednesday (April 18): Youmight havebeenaskingyourself...WhatcanIdo? HowcanIhelp?
Eachstudent is expected to makeabrief(15minute) presentationthatincludestheiranswertothequestion “WhatcanI/wedotohelpalleviatesome (orevenone) oftheseproblems?”
Wednesday (April 18) continued
Pickatopicthatyoufoundespeciallyinterestingorchallenging (e.g. food insecurity in a particular region, gendered effects of climate change, rebuilding after a civil conflict, etc). Email me your topic for approval the Sundayafter Spring Break.
Aspartofyourbriefpresentation in class, youshould1) briefly explain the magnitude of the problem and 2) discussthreeorganizationswhose (local, nationaland/orglobal) workon this issue youfindvaluableandwouldliketohighlight. These could be grassroots groups, labor unions, non-governmental organizations, city or state-wide campaigns/initiatives, faith-based organizations that provide social services, other issue-based organizations and associations. Thismakes up 10% of your grade.
April 23: Youhavebeenaskingyourself.....WhatcanIdo? HowcanIhelp?
Studentpresentationscontinued.
April 30:Endofsemesterdiscussionanddiscussionofthefinalexam
May 7:Finalexam from 1.30-3.30 pm in the Testing Center in SageHallRoom 330
Finalexam, comprising some multiple choice and a few essay questions,willbeheldinSageHallRoom 330.More guidance on how to study for the final will be forthcoming.
If/whenyoumissclass, pleasecontactoneofyourclassmatesaboutwhatyoumissed:
Namecontactinformationforclassmate
Namecontactinformationforclassmate
Keeptrackofyourgrades:
Attendanceandparticipation: ____ / 10
Quiz 1: ____ / 15
Quiz 2: ____ / 15
Bookreview: ____ / 20
Midterm: ____ / 20
Finalexam: ___ / 20
Total: ____ / 100