Law and Politics of International Security: VU University Amsterdam

Course Description

This one-year Master's programme aims at transferring to students the knowledge, skills and insight necessary to operate as a professional or academic researcher in the area of international peace of security.

The programme is based on the assumption that international law cannot be properly understood outside its political context, whereas contemporary international politics cannot be fully grasped without a solid knowledge of international legal institutions. It offers a multidisciplinary approach to the rapidly changing field of international peace and security. It includes topics such as the United Nations system of collective security, the transformation of war (including catastrophic terrorism and other forms of political violence), human rights protection, the development of international criminal tribunals and humanitarian law.

The programme has three basic characteristics:

• a multidisciplinary approach, combining international law and international relations;
• a thematic focus on international security;
• an interactive and international academic community where staff and students are engaged in research and the development of knowledge.

Subjects

The programme covers the following subjects:

• Historical doctrines and theories of war
• UN system of collective security
• Role and powers of the Security Council
• The changing nature of war
• Legal constraints on warfare
• Principles and limits of humanitarian law
• International terrorism
• Counter-terrorism, human rights and humanitarian law
• Security dilemma
• Arms control and disarmament
• Building of security communities
• Democratic politics and war
• Democratization processes and conflict
• Human security

Career prospects

The programme prepares students for a career in the broad field of international security. Graduates from the programme will be able to pursue a career as:

• Researcher at universities, especially PhD positions
• Legal advisor, policy analyst or policy maker at national ministries, especially the ministries of foreign affairs, defense and justice
• Legal advisor, policy analyst or policy maker at international organizations operating in the field of international security.
• Member of diplomatic service
• International civil servant
• Legal counsellor at law firms
• Legal assistant, legal advisor, policy analyst or policy advisor at international courts and tribunals
• Analyst/researcher at research centers and think tanks in the field of international security
• Legal and policy advisor for international non-governmental organizations such as the Red Cross and Amnesty International
• Consultant at consultancy firms in the area of international security
• Advisor and researcher at private military and security companies
• Journalist and correspondent

Admission requirements

The admission requirements are as follows:

• Applicants must have a Bachelor's or equivalent degree in Law, Social Sciences or Liberal Arts, and a basic knowledge of international law or international relations theory.
• Applicants must have good proficiency in the English language (an average IELTS result of 6.5 and a minimum result of 6.0 on all separate modules).