international security thesis

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Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Theses and dissertations published by graduate students in the Graduate Program in International Studies, College of Arts & Letters, Old Dominion University, since Fall 2016 are available in this collection. Backfiles of all dissertations (and some theses) have also been added.

In late Fall 2024, all theses will be digitized and available here. In the meantime, consult the Library Catalog to find older items in print.

Theses/Dissertations from 2024 2024

Dissertation: The Place of Nuclear Weapons in Russian Identity: An Ontological Security Analysis , Peter Ernest Yeager

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Thesis: Crisis Narratives in Crisis? A Comparative Investigation into National COVID-19 Narratives , Mouse D. Bennett

Thesis: United States Foreign Policy and the Additions of Sweden and Finland to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization , Kara Gwendolyn Broene

Thesis: The Solidarity Manifesto: A New Network for Future Change , Sofia Calicchio

Dissertation: Global Energy Consumption: An Analysis of Variables That Shape Per Capita Usage, or How Pump Price, Urbanization, and Fossil Fuels Imports Impact Fossil Fuels Consumption Per Capita Across OECD Countries , Mila Demchyk Savage

Thesis: U.S.-China Trade War: Phase One Agreement and Self-Enforcing Contracts , Hameedullah Hassani

Dissertation: Complex Dynamics of Contention: Towards a Generative Model of Social Dissent , Travis Holmes

Thesis: The Civil War Conflict Between Anglophones/Francophones in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon , Myriam Jeter

Dissertation: Opportunities and Challenges from Major Disasters Lessons Learned of Long-Term Recovery Group Members , Eduardo E. Landaeta

Dissertation: Can’t Let Go: Anxiety, Ontological Security, and French Foreign Policy Decision-Making During the Hollande Administration , Peter D. Langley

Dissertation: Attitudes of Ethnic Minorities Towards National Defense and Security in the Triadic Nexus: The Case of Russian-Speakers in Estonia , Nikita Lumijoe

Dissertation: Help-Seeking Behavior Among Resettled Refugee , Mahfoudha Sid’Elemine

Thesis: A Leftist Political Surge: How an Authoritarian Past Helped Spawn a Modern Political Movement in Spain and Portugal , Jared Sykes

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Dissertation: Thither the Russian Navy? Putin’s Navalization in a Historical Context , William Emerson Bunn

Dissertation: Securing Russia: Seeking Ontological Security in the Arctic , Brian W. Cole

Dissertation: The Expansion of NOCs: What Strengthening State-Owned Enterprises Means for Global Energy , Alexander L. Fretz

Thesis: The Carrot vs. the Stick: A Comparative Analysis of Secondary Sanctions vs. Positive Inducements in Gaining European Support for a U.S.-Led Sanction Regime , Andy Gomez

Dissertation: Remittance: A New Instrument for Change -- Understanding the Impact of Remittances on Home Countries Development , Alex M. Hamed

Dissertation: Russia, Europe and Central Asia Energy Security and Pipeline Politics , Mehmet Kınacı

Dissertation: The Political Economy of Global Private Currencies , Girish Sreevatsan Nandakumar

Thesis: Nord Stream 2: The Gas Curtain of Europe , Sarah Elizabeth Nelson

Dissertation: Present at the Creation, a Redux: The Need for Strategic Minded Joint Force Officers in a Rapidly Changing and Dynamic International Security Environment , Thomas Joseph Snukis

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Thesis: Mobilizing Discomfort for Water Security as a Human Right: A Newspaper Analysis of Social Conflict in South Africa , Madison Gonzalez

Dissertation: Reinterpreted Europe: An Assessment of EU (In) Ability to Deal with Threats to the Rule of Law , Huso Hasanovic

Dissertation: Connectivism: Adopting Quantum Holism in International Relations , Grant Randal Highland

Dissertation: State Antifragility: An Agent-Based Modeling Approach to Understanding State Behavior , Rebecca Lee Law

Thesis: Institutional Stretching: How Moroccan NGOs Illuminate the Nexus of Climate, Migration, Gender and Development , Shelby Mertens

Dissertation: The Second-Order Impact of Relative Power on Outcomes of Crisis Bargaining: A Theory of Expected Disutility and Resolve , Tatevik Movsisyan

Thesis: Language and Cultural Identity in Post-Soviet Frozen Conflicts , Irina Paquette

Dissertation: Smart Power in the Iraq Surge 2007-2008 , Russell N. Reiling

Dissertation: Re-Spatializing Gangs in the United States: An Analysis of Macro- and Micro-Level Network Structures , Ryan J. Roberts

Dissertation: Norm Contestation and Its Effects on Emergence of a New Norm , Khadijeh Salimi

Dissertation: Cybersecurity Legislation and Ransomware Attacks in the United States, 2015-2019 , Joseph Skertic

Dissertation: Environmentally Related Urbanization and Violence Potential , Christina Bagaglio Slentz

Dissertation: The Politics of Medicine: Power, Actors, and Ideas in the Making of Health , Claire Wulf Winiarek

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Thesis: Shifting Sources of Humanitarian Aid: The Importance of Network Resiliency and Donor Diversification , Mackenzie Marie Clark

Dissertation: Wicked Ideas for Wicked Problems: Marine Debris and the Complexity of Governance , Dawn Helene Driesbach

Thesis: A Comparative Approach to Racial Stereotyping in South Africa and the United States and How It Has Obliterated the Black Image , Maylat Tedla Eyob

Dissertation: Faits Accomplis in the Shadow of Shifting Power , Joshua Adam Hastey

Thesis: Stratified Security Communities: Transatlantic Distrust and Identity Divergence , Afra Maike Herr

Dissertation: The Path to Victory: A Comparative Analysis of Mena Region Countries , Negar Moayed

Dissertation: A Rivalry of Necessity: An Analysis of Mechanisms of Contention Between The Islamic Republic of Iran and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , Aras Syahmanssuri

Thesis: The Study of Motivation for Defection Within the Intelligence Community: Hindering the Government's Ability to Prevent and Detect Defection , William Virgili

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Thesis: Hyperborean Habits and Melting Ice: The Normalization of Arctic Space and Resurgent National Identity , Ian Birdwell

Thesis: From Compassion to Resistance: Lesbos Refugee Crisis , Luz Diaz

Thesis: The G5 Sahel: An Insufficient Organization for a Failed Region? , Beder Dine El Khou

Dissertation: The Messy Nuclear Landscape: Using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping to Explore Plausible Nuclear Disarmament Scenarios , Ryan M. Nixon

Dissertation: The Trojan Horse in Your Head: Cognitive Threats and How to Counter Them , Lora Pitman

Dissertation: At the Hands of Fate: The Political Economy of Islamic Insurance in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan, C. 1980 to the Present , Muhammad S. Rahman

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Dissertation: Measuring Vulnerability Interdependence: To What Extent Do Chinese Investments in Africa Make China Vulnerable? , Nurullah Ayyilmaz

Dissertation: When the Wind Blows: An Evaluation of Key Factors that Enabled the Proliferation of Wind Energy Generation in the United States Through 2016 , Mary Sodini Bell

Thesis: Fem Media Matters: An Inqueery Into Campus Sexual Assault , Andrew Kennedy Garber

Thesis: Contemporary Russia in America's World: Russian Narratives on Post-Soviet Space , Marianna Portniagina

Dissertation: Throw Me a Lifeline: A Comparison of Port Cities with Antithetical Adaptation Strategies to Sea-Level Rise , Claudia Marie Risner

Dissertation: Beyond Carrots and Sticks: An Analysis of U.S. Approaches to Counterterrorism From 2000-2016 , Margaret M. Seymour

Thesis: The “Trump Effect?” Challenges to the United States Hegemony in Higher Education Cross-Cultural Exchange: A Case Study of International Students at Old Dominion University , Raven Alexandra Showalter

Thesis: The Effect of Illicit Drugs Securitization in Indonesia , Yanu Widiyono

Thesis: The Kosovo Moment: The United States and the Post-Cold War Balkans , Visar Xhambazi

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Dissertation: Diffusion of Renewable Energy Policies , Khatera Alizada

Dissertation: New Regionalism in Global Order: Regional Trade Integration and Its Links with Financial Sector , Tulu Balkir

Dissertation: Jointness, Culture, and Inter-Service Prejudice: Assessing the Impact of Resident, Satellite, and Hybrid Joint Professional Military Education II Course Delivery Methods on Military Officer Attitudes , Charles Mark Davis

Dissertation: Endpoints After Empire: Explaining Varying Levels of Democracy in Post-Communist Europe , William John Eger Jr.

Dissertation: A Cross-Disciplinary Approach to the Maritime Security Risk of Piracy and Lessons Learned From Agent-Based Modeling , Joanne Marie Fish

Dissertation: The Treatment of Ethnic Minorities in Democratizing Muslim Countries: The Securitization of Kurds in Turkey Versus the Autonomization of Acehnese in Indonesia , Maurizio Geri

Dissertation: A Dirty Dilemma: Determinants of Electronic Waste Importation , Jamila N. Glover

Dissertation: Empty Chair at the Table: Bargaining, Costs and Litigation at the World Trade Organization , Felicia Anneita Grey

Dissertation: Acquiring the Tools of Grand Strategy: The US Navy's LCS as a Case Study , Sean P. Murphy

Dissertation: The Little Lady that Could: Small Latvia Rejoins the Euro-Atlantic Community , Sandis Sraders

Dissertation: The Memorialization of Historical Memories in East Asia , Bo Ram Yi

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Thesis: The Effects of Using Natural Gas in Light-Duty Vehicle Fleet of the United States on Its Energy Dependency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions , Nurullah Ayyilmaz

Dissertation: Assessing the Role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Extraterritorial Activities in Attaining Iran’s Foreign Policy Goals , Hamza Demirel

Dissertation: Culture and Military Effectiveness: How Societal Traits Influence Battle Outcomes , Eric Stephen Fowler

Dissertation: The Franchising Effect on the Al-Qaeda Enterprise and Related Transnational Terror Groups: Patterns of Evolution of Al-Qaeda Affiliates in the 21st Century , Nicholas Benjamin Law

Thesis: Under the Surface of Sex Trafficking: Socio-Economic and Cultural Perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence in India , Karmen Marie Matusek

Dissertation: Visegrad Revival: Where Less is More, in the Prospect of Smaller Numbers , Aaron G. Sander

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Dissertation: Armed Humanitarian Intervention: The Role of Powerful Leaders in Framing and the National Security Decision Making Process , John Marshall Callahan

Dissertation: U.S. Military Aid and the Role of Foreign Armies in Civil Politics , Jennifer Jones Cunningham

Dissertation: Removing the Rust: Comparative Post-Industrial Revitalization in Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh , Scott Nicholas Duryea

Dissertation: 'Home was Congo': Refugees and Durable Displacement in the Borderlands of 1,000 Hills , Erika Frydenlund

Thesis: Shaping American Foreign Policy A Game Theoretic Analysis of the United States'--North Korean Relationship , Kimberly Michelle Ganczak

Dissertation: Energy as a Factor for Turkish - Russian Rapprochement , Saltuk Bugra Karahan

Dissertation: Poverty Within Nation-States: The impact of Corruption, Trade, Income Inequality, Population Growth, Foreign Aid, and Military Expenditure , Mustafa Karapinar

Dissertation: Path Dependence in Intrastate Conflicts: Resources, Regimes, and Interventions , Ivan Medynskyi

Dissertation: Dwelling in Time, Dwelling in Structures: Disintegration in World Politics , Jan Adam Nalaskowski

Dissertation: Wildlife Crime and Other Challenges to Resource System Resilience , Patricia Anne Raxter

Dissertation: In Search of Autonomy: Nepal as a Wedge State Between India and China , Sagar Rijal

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Dissertation: Weak Links in a Dangerously Fractured Region: Fragile State as Global Threats , Tasawar ul-Rahim Baig

Dissertation: The Internet vs. the Nation-State: Prevention and Prosecution Challenges on the Internet in Republic of TürkiyI , Ersin Elibol

Dissertation: Ritualized Rhetoric and Historical Memory in German Foreign and Security Policy , Sara A. Hoff

Dissertation: What Constitutes the Success or Failure of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) in Foreign Markets? A Case Study of Chinese and American MNCs , Shiwei Jiang

Dissertation: Tempering the Resource Curse in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Explanatory Analysis of the Variance of the Resource Curse in Nigeria and Botswana , Jody-Ann Suzette Jones

Dissertation: Neglecting the 'Right on Which All Other Rights Depend': Press Freedom in the International Human Rights Discourse , Wiebke Lamer

Dissertation: State-Centric or State-in-Society: National Identity and Collective Memory in the Linkage Politics of Chinese Foreign Relations , Ning Liao

Thesis: Transnational Organized Crime and the Illegal Wildlife Trade Global Ties and Global Crime , Zachariah Edward Long

Thesis: U.S. - ASEAN Organized Crime Cooperation as Part of Washington's Rebalancing Policy Toward the Asia-Pacific , Tuan Anh Luc

Dissertation: Explaining Nuclear Energy Pursuance: A Comparison of the United States, Germany, and Japan , Lauren Emily McKee

Thesis: Hijacking the Syrian Revolution , Iman Khairat Nanoua

Thesis: Human Torches: The Genesis of Self-Immolation in the Sociopolitical Context , Ryan Michael Nixon

Dissertation: Great Powers, the Persian Gulf, and Global Oil: A Comparative Analysis , Katerina Oskarsson

Dissertation: Democratic Counterinsurgents: How Democracies Can Prevail in Irregular Warfare , William Roland Patterson

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International Security Studies (MLitt) 2025 entry

The MLitt in International Security Studies examines international security through traditional and critical approaches. Students will learn to cultivate their own voice by engaging with different theoretical approaches and empirical case studies. 

Application deadline

Friday 25 April 2025

Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.

“This programme is perfect for anyone interested in the multidisciplinary field of security. The interactive nature of the classes let me learn from experts while developing my own perspectives in seminar discussions with fellow students. The course academically challenged me in new ways, boosting my confidence in independently researching and tackling the complex issues in international security politics. The wide variety of modules encouraged me to adopt a global and timely outlook, enabling me to study conflicts and urgent debates as they unfolded on the international stage. Events like the ISS Masterclass provided the unique opportunity to learn from expert scholars actively driving this research field forward. Reflecting on my time on the programme, I would say I have learned more in this one-year degree than in my previous three years at university combined. Now, I approach my future career with newly invigorated confidence and passion.”

Entry requirements

• A 2.1 Honours degree. A background in political science and international relations is strongly encouraged. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the  international entry requirements .
• English language proficiency. See  English language tests and qualifications .

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application requirements

• personal statement indicating your knowledge of the programme and how it will benefit you (500 words) 
• sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words maximum) 
• two original signed academic references 
• academic transcripts and degree certificates

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

English language proficiency

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability.   See approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The MLitt in International Security Studies is a one-year taught postgraduate programme run by the School of International Relations. 

Highlights 

• Allows students to study critical and traditional security approaches. 
• Ensures that students grasp the cutting-edge debates taking place in security studies.  
• Invites students to think originally and ask alternative questions.  
• Provides opportunities for students to apply a wide array of theoretical lenses.  
• Encourages students to focus on empirical case studies and global security issues.

The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your programme. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue .

All International Security Studies MLitt students take two compulsory and two optional modules over the course of the programme.  

• Dissertation
• Critical Security Studies : examines the challenge to traditional conceptions of security presented by the emergence of critical security studies since the end of the Cold War.
• International Security : focuses on important issues and significant debates in security studies. 

Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered. 

• Emergent Great Powers : offers a comparative analysis of India and China's emergence as great powers. It examines historical and theoretical perspectives, foreign policies, and future challenges.
• International Law and International Security : analyses how international law shapes decision-making in security matters. It discusses a variety of case studies ranging from the International Criminal Court to the use of force.
• Leaders, Psychology and Foreign Policy : examines the psychology of political leaders, including information processing, personalities, and group dynamics influences on their foreign policy choices.
• Political Economy of Conflict : provides a political economy perspective on conflict in a developing economy.
• Security and Development in East Asia : investigates growth and development in East Asian states, and seeks to understand if there is a uniquely Asian approach to security and development that produces distinctive regional patterns.
• Spaces of Securitization : explores how securitization unfolds in theory and in practice by investigating the ‘spatial turn’ in international relations. 

You may, with permission, take modules from other MLitt programmes in the School.  

Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered. Some may only allow limited numbers of students. Read more about curriculum development at the University of St Andrews.

The final element of the MLitt is a 15,000-word dissertation. The dissertation should focus on an area of international security studies in which you are interested. Each student is supported by a relevant supervisor from the School who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. 

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allow suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.

The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2025 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue . 

• Teaching format

The programme consists of four taught modules taken over two semesters and a 15,000-word dissertation in an area of your choice.

The two compulsory modules will ground you in both long-standing and contemporary approaches to security issues. 

Modules are taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Average lecture sizes range from 20 to 30 students, and tutorial sizes range from 1 to 15 students. 

Assessment methods include a combination of examination and coursework. 

Every MLitt student is assigned a dissertation supervisor who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. 

Home Tuition fees have yet to be set.

Overseas Tuition fees have yet to be set.

Application fee

Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.

Marc L Carter International Security Studies Essay Prize 

The Marc L Carter International Security Studies Essay Prize is awarded annually for the best ISS essay or equivalent assessed work.

The prize is named after Marc Carter, a passionate educator who believed in multi-disciplinary teaching, student-centred learning, and the transformative power of education.

Nominations will be made by staff members only, and recipients will be determined by a review panel in the ISS programme. The prize carries with it a £200 monetary award. 

15% Recent Graduate Discount

If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.

Taught postgraduate scholarships     Postgraduate loans

After your degree

Students who graduate from the MLitt in International Security Studies frequently find employment in the foreign service, non-governmental agencies and security consulting, or advance to a PhD to pursue an academic career.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Further study

Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in a PhD programme at St Andrews.  

What to do next

Information sessions.

Meet our staff, learn more, and ask questions about how our courses can work for you.

School of International Relations website

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International security and intelligence cooperation : a collective case study of the OSCE and Europol

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International Security and Global Governance

Application options include:

Course Overview

Our MSc International Security and Global Governance explores urgent contemporary debates about violence, conflict, security and governance from a global perspective.

As the distinctions between civil wars, terrorism, warlord conflict and conventional war have blurred, the corresponding interventions - humanitarian, regional, international and imperial - have been the subject of considerable academic debate and political controversy. Simultaneously, geopolitical rivalries among global powers and the threat of violence and war between states continue to shape international security. Our approach works across disciplines, incorporating political, theoretical, historical, sociological and public policy approaches to produce comprehensive, balanced analyses of contemporary political controversies.

Core modules will examine the changing nature of war, violence and security, and their relationship with state and society. They provide a historical understanding of the evolution of global military, humanitarian and governance institutions and the ideas that shaped them.

You then choose option modules from a wide variety of topics including international security, American foreign policy, globalisation, political theory and sociology, war and conflict, nationalism and religion, and international political economy. The culmination of the course is applying the concepts and methods you have learnt to write a dissertation on the subject that interests you most.

This course is part of our new Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK , which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking International Security and Global Governance (MSc).

Key information and modules

International security and global governance msc: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting october 2024, international security and global governance msc: 1 year full-time, flexible learning, starting october 2024, international security and global governance msc: 1 year full-time, online, starting october 2024, international security and global governance msc: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting october 2024, international security and global governance msc: 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting october 2024, international security and global governance msc: 2 years part-time, online, starting october 2024.

Find another course:

• We organise a lively programme of seminars and conferences and are home to affiliated research centres, such as the  Birkbeck Centre for British Political Life , which run seminars, conferences and other events where some of the world's best scholars present their latest research.
• Our  academic staff  are international authorities in their respective fields, publishing and delivering stimulating teaching in  a wide range of political topics  including civil society and the state, public policy, development, gender, international security and terrorism, and social and political theory, among others.
• Our location in central London puts us at the heart of the UK’s political life and at the centre of academic London. You can walk down to Parliament and Whitehall, while Bloomsbury contains some of the world’s most famous libraries and centres of research. Our departmental building was once a key location for members of the Bloomsbury Group, so you could be studying in rooms that have hosted distinguished visitors, including T.S. Eliot, George Bernard Shaw and Maynard Keynes.
• You can take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including Senate House Library, which is right next door to Birkbeck, the British Library, which is five minutes’ walk away, and the British Library of Political and Economic Science at the London School of Economics, which is also walkable from Birkbeck.  Birkbeck Library  has a large politics collection, including the major specialist journals, and provides you with access to an extensive range of online materials.

Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the Key Information section under Attendance.

Entry Requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in a related area or relevant experience combined with an adequate academic background (subject to interview).

Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now  to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

International students:  if you need a Student visa to study in the UK, you must meet certain minimum in-person attendance requirements. You will be required to primarily study on campus and so will only be able to apply for the on-campus study mode.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement,  we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our  English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country .

Visa and funding requirements

If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

• Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
• Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

For full information, read our visa information for international students page .

Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country .

Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

If you have studied at university, you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied. It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

International Security and Global Governance MSc: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25

Academic year 2024–25, starting october 2024.

Part-time home students: £5,400 per year Full-time home students: £10,800 per year Part-time international students : £9,915 per year Full-time international students: £19,830 per year

International Security and Global Governance MSc: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, online, starting in academic year 2024-25

International security and global governance msc: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting in academic year 2024-25.

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy .

If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

International scholarships

We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship .

At Birkbeck, most of our courses are taught in the evening and all of our teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments. We actively encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience.

Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow students. They typically require preparatory study.

In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.

Methods of teaching on this course

A combination of lectures and seminars for taught modules, employing a variety of formats.

Teaching hours

Our evening hours are normally between 6pm and 9pm (6-7.30pm and 7.30-9pm). Some programmes also offer teaching during the day and this will be clearly signposted to you where it is available.

On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the modules you take, you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project (if applicable).

Alongside your contact hours, you will also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study both for taught sessions (this might include online sessions and/or in-person sessions) and personal study will depend on how much you are studying during the year and whether you are studying full time or part time.

Birkbeck’s courses are made up of modules and allocated ‘credit’. One credit is equivalent to ten hours of learning time. Modules are usually in 15, 30 or 60 credit units. A 15-credit module will mean around 150 hours of learning, including taught sessions and independent study or group work. This is spread out over the whole period of that module and includes the time you spend on any assessments, including in examinations, preparing and writing assessments or engaged in practical work as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.

On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies.

Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).

Indicative class size

Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching. For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small, interactive groups led by a tutor.

Independent learning

On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning, including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to, reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing for presentations and assessments.

Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour of teaching.

Study skills and additional support

Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed. Our Learning Development Service can help you in the following areas:

• academic skills (including planning your workload, research, writing, exam preparation and writing a dissertation)
• written English (including structure, punctuation and grammar)
• numerical skills (basic mathematics and statistics).

Our Disability and Dyslexia Service can support you if you have additional learning needs resulting from a disability or from dyslexia.

Our Counselling Service can support you if you are struggling with emotional or psychological difficulties during your studies.

Our Mental Health Advisory Service can support you if you are experiencing short- or long-term mental health difficulties during your studies.

Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.

Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

Methods of assessment on this course

Formative and assessed essays and examinations.

Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue career paths in international organisations, policy research, journalism, economic and political forecasting, campaigning organisations, local and national government, the diplomatic services and private sector management. Possible professions include:

• Civil Service fast-streamer
• politician’s assistant
• diplomatic services operational officer
• social researcher
• human resources officer.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply - read more about suitable forms of identification .

When to apply

You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places on your chosen course and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

You will also receive information about subject-specific induction sessions over the summer.

Help and advice with your application

Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

Apply for your course

Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section .

Related courses

• Government, Policy and Politics (MSc)

Course structure

Course structure listing, course structure and modules for international security and global governance msc: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting october 2024.

For this on-campus route you must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

• two core modules (30 credits each)
• two option modules (30 credits each)
• a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation due in September (60 credits).

Core modules

• Global Politics, Governance and Security
• War, Politics and Society

Indicative option modules

• American Foreign Policy
• Food, Politics, and Society (Level 7)
• Political Communications: Media, Campaigns, and Citizens
• Political Theory and Contemporary Politics
• Power and Politics in the UK
• Public Policy: Interests, Ideas, Institutions
• The Geopolitics of Environment and Resources
• The Political Sociology of the Modern State

MSc International Security and Global Governance dissertation

• Dissertation MSc Politics

Course structure and modules for International Security and Global Governance MSc: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, online, starting October 2024

For this online route you must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

Online option modules are to be confirmed for 2024/25.

• Governing Public Services
• Qualitative Research Design
• Qualitative Social Research Methods
• The Political Economy of the Public Sector
• The Puzzles of Policy: Policy in Politics and Practice
• Theories of Public Policy-Making: Interests, Institutions, and Ideas

Course structure and modules for International Security and Global Governance MSc: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting October 2024

For this flexible route, you can choose to take modules online or you can choose to take them on campus. You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

Online and on-campus option modules are to be confirmed for 2024/25.

Indicative option modules - on campus

Indicative option modules - online.

ScholarWorks at UMass Boston

Home > MCCORMACK > CRHSGG > GLOBALGOV_DISS

Global Governance and Human Security Dissertations

This collection contains open access and campus access dissertations, made possible through Graduate Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The full content of open access dissertations is available to all, although some files may have embargoes placed on them and will be made available as soon as possible. The full content of campus access dissertations is only available to those either on the UMass Boston campus or with a UMass Boston campus username and password. Click on the "Off-Campus UMass Boston Users" link on the record page to download Campus Access publications. Those not on campus and those without a UMass Boston campus username and password may gain access to this dissertation through resources like Proquest Dissertations & Theses Global or through Interlibrary Loan.

Dissertations from 2024 2024

Navigating Narratives: Immigrant and Refugee Lived Experiences, Counternarratives, and Social Connections in an Era of Securitization of Migration , Denise Renee Muro

Advancing Women's Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review , Rebecca Yemo

Neoliberal Youth Security Governance: South Korean Youth, Governmentality, Power Relations, and Shaping (In)Security , Paul Yoo

Dissertations from 2023 2023

What Explains the Behavior of Chinese Companies in Africa? Exploring the Nature of African Agency in FOCAC Platforms and On the Ground , Woldemedhin N. Aklilu

Security, Gender, and Power: NATO’s Advising Program in Afghanistan , Polly A. Cegielski

Governing Global and National Migration Nexuses: The Case of the Niger 'Transit' Region , Balkissa Daouda Diallo

The Practice of Climate Change Adaptation Governance in Arctic Cities: Understanding Local Policymaking Interactions in Norway and Russia , Nadezhda N. Filimonova

Complexity at the Science-Policy Interface in Ethiopia’s Policy Spaces , Wondemagegnehu W. Sintayehu

Dissertations from 2022 2022

Reframing the Silent Burden of Perinatal Mental Health in South Africa: Applying a Governance and Human Rights Perspective , Shelley M. Brown

Evaluating Perceptions of Participatory Mapping for Public Decision-Making Using Seasketch , Charla M. Burnett

Damming Sustainability: How Social and Environmental Networks Influence the Construction and Management of Large Dams in the Amazon Basin , V. Miranda Chase

Indian Women Construction Workers' Social Construction of Human Security , Chantal Ann Krcmar

Distress, Dilemma, and Decisions- Household Aspirations and Migration Decisionmaking in Rural India , Kundan Mishra

The Migration-Security Nexus in South-South Population Flows: Securitization of Haitian Migration in the Dominican Republic , Jean-Pierre D. Murray

The Historical and Contemporary Importance of All-Women’s Colleges and Universities Around the World: An Analysis Through Context and Narrative With a Case Study of the Asian University for Women in Chittagong/Chattogram, Bangladesh , Denise S. Sharif

Race, Gender, and Conflict: How Women’s NGOs Build Peace and Enhance Gender Justice in Colombia , Safiya Kemba St. Clair

Dissertations from 2021 2021

Gendering Bare Life Through Sex Work Governance in India: Rethinking Sexual Labor Precarity and Resistance from the Postcolony , Sudeshna Chatterjee

A Top-Down Approach to Bottom Up Development: NGO Implementation of Early Childhood Development Programs in Rwanda , Lyndsey D. McMahan

The Gender of Peace: State Power and Discourse in Colombia (1946-1991) , Adriana Rincon Villegas

World Heritage Governance: Assessing the Influence of Governance Factors on the Protection of Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites , Eike Tobias Schmedt

Dissertations from 2020 2020

From Minamata to Mines in Ghana: A Cross-Scale Study on Global Governance of Mercury Use in Artisanal And Small-Scale Gold Mining , Timothy Adivilah Balag'kutu

The Rise and Rise of the Criminal Record: Power, Order and Safety in the United States, 1848-1960 , Charles W. Brackett

Balancing the Environment and Development: Environmental Reform and Mainstreaming at the World Bank Ethiopia Country Office , John Michael Denney

The Political Economy of Migration Governance: How Political Actors, Networks, Institutions and Policies Impact the Migration-Development Nexus in the Global South , Christopher C. Graham

Dissertations from 2019 2019

The Governance of Transnational Security Threats in Fragile States: The Case of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) 2007 – 2017 , Abigail Kabandula

Global Governance and the Post-Colonial State: Women, Gender, and Public Opinion in Public Policymaking in Trinidad & Tobago 1956-2005 , Deborah N. McFee

Seeking a Nexus Between Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainable Development in the Extractive Industries: An Analysis of the Mali Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (MEITI) , Jason J. McSparren

Understanding Gender and Access to Healthcare for Resettled Women in Post-War Northern Sri Lanka through Intersectionality , Bharathi Radhakrishnan

The Effects of Issue Area Governance Overlap on the Institutions of Multilateral Counterterrorism Cooperation , Aamer Raza

“We Want To Be Free”: A Qualitative Examination of Migration as a Social Determinant of Health for Youth, Cross-Border Migrants in Johannesburg, South Africa , Theresa Sommers

Dissertations from 2018 2018

Transformations in Conservation Governance and Implications for Human Security: The Case of Kenya’s Northern Rangelands , Jeremiah O. Asaka

The Institutional Landscape of International Forest Protection: Understanding Institutional Complexity in International Forest Governance , Gabriela Bueno Gibbs

Queering Women, Peace and Security , Jamie J. Hagen

The Emergence of Private Governance in a Nonwestern Context: The Case of South Korea , Jinyoung Kang

Exploring the Impact of Insurgencies on Gender-Based Violence and the Nigerian Armed Forces: The Boko Haram Case , Modupe Oshikoya

Mainstreaming Climate Change in Development: The Evolution of Discourse , Yuliya Rashchupkina

Dissertations from 2017 2017

Environment, States, and International Organizations: The Role of Global Environmental Conventions in Protecting the Environment , Natalia Escobar Pemberthy

Human-Centric National Security in Strong States: South Korea’s Security Relations with North Korea , Jay Jinseop Jang

Dissertations from 2016 2016

Kashmir as a Protracted Social Conflict: Examining the Role of Non-State Actors in the Policymaking Process , Debidatta Aurobinda Mahapatra

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• Degree Requirements
• Academic Standing and Degree Completion
• Thesis Procedures
• Academic Policies
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Thesis Procedure

Full Time Students:

International Counterterrorism Fellowship Program and Ft. Bragg Program

Students who are enrolled in the International Counterterrorism Fellowship Program and Ft. Bragg program will write a thesis during their year in residence.

1. Thesis Advisor Selection: Students indicate their preferred Thesis Advisor on 23 September 2011. A Second Reader will be assigned by the Dean to evaluate the final work. The Office of Student Services will notify students of their final advisor selection. At that time, the Office of Student Services also provides students with guidance regarding the process for approval of thesis proposal and supporting documentation. The Office of Academic Affairs will provide guidance on the submission of Thesis.

2. Students work with their Thesis Advisor to develop an individualized plan for thesis completion, including deadlines for draft chapters and final submission. Once an advisor is assigned, students should schedule an appointment to discuss their topics and to outline a working plan for the project. It is strongly recommended that students complete their first chapter by the end of the Fall Semester. Any major changes involving methodology or thesis topic must be approved by the Thesis Advisor.

3.  The deposit copy is due 9 May to the Office of Academic Affairs (Click  here  to view the Academic Calendar for exact dates) . Students who fail to submit the thesis on time will not graduate with their class. Final grades for the semester will be available on 17 May 2011.

Part-Time Students

Part-time students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above and wish to pursue the thesis option may apply to do so upon completion of at least 18 CISA credit hours. These students should be prepared to spend one year researching and writing a graduate-level thesis. Students should verify their cumulative GPA and credit hours with the Office of Student Services.

1.  Thesis Advisor Selection:  Students should approach a faculty member to be their thesis advisor and submit a proposal to that faculty member with a completed  Thesis Proposal Form . The thesis proposal should be at least five pages in length detailing the research problem, its importance, working hypothesis, preliminary literature review, and proposed research design. A scheduled work plan and preliminary bibliography should also be attached.  The Office of Student Services provides updated information regarding a recommended outline for the proposal along with the Thesis Proposal Form.

2.  Thesis Proposal Submission and Approval:  Once a faculty member has reviewed the proposal and agrees that it meets academic research standards, he/she will sign the  Thesis Proposal Form  and return it to the student. The student will then submit the proposal and signed form to the Office of Student Services for submission to the Academic Policy Council (APC) for review.

The APC will determine whether the proposal meets CISA standards and grant permission for the student to continue with the thesis option. If the Council rejects the proposal, the student will consult with their advisor and may submit one more revised proposal to the Council for consideration. If a second proposal is also rejected, the student will be enrolled in the non-thesis option for the Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Security Studies degree program.

3.  Writing the Thesis:  After a thesis proposal receives APC approval, the student is enrolled in  CISA 6943 Thesis  (six credits ).  Students work with their Thesis Advisor to develop an individualized schedule for thesis completion, including deadlines for draft chapters and final submission. After official enrollment in 6943, the student has  one calendar year  to complete the thesis. If more time is required, the student may download the  Thesis Extension Form  from the CISA website and submit a copy signed by their advisor to the Office of Students Services for approval by the APC.

4.  Final Thesis Submission:  Students should submit two copies of their thesis to the Office of Student Services with a Thesis Submission Form signed by their Thesis Advisor. They should also submit an electronic copy to the Office of Student Services. The APC reviews all thesis submissions and makes the final determination whether a thesis Exceeds Expectations, Meets Expectations, or Does Not Meet Expectations. A thesis that “Does Not Meet Expectations” may be revised and resubmitted in the following semester for reconsideration.

Students wishing to graduate in January 2012 must submit their final thesis to the APC no later than the first week of December. Students wishing to graduate in June must submit the final thesis no later than the first week of May. Students should also submit an  Intent to Graduate Form  to the Office of Student Services by the appropriate deadlines. (See academic calendar for final deadline dates).

Human Subjects Research Policy

CISA protects the rights of all human subjects in conducting research in accordance with DOD Directive 3216.02 Protection of Human Subjects and Adherence to Ethical Standards in DOD-Supported Research. The College will adhere to these principles in all research involving human subjects. Specific plans for data collection via surveys or interviews, for example, must be approved through the Academic Policy Council. For current guidelines, contact the Office of Student Services.

Thesis Formatting and Structure Guidelines

The following are guidelines for formatting and structure of the CISA Master’s Thesis.

Margins: Left: 1.5 inches. Right: 1 inch. Top: 1 inch. Bottom: 1 inch.

Font: 12 point, Times New Roman.

Page Numbers: For Abstract use roman numerals (e.g., i, ii, iii, iv, etc.). Cover pages, disclaimer, and table of contents should not have page numbers. At Chapter 1 begin using arabic numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.)

Tables/Charts/Graphs: Should be formatted in accordance with the Chicago Manual of Style, Chapter 3, see especially Figure 3.12 and 3.74-3.78.

Headers and Footers: not required, not recommended.

Footnotes: Should be in accordance with Chicago Manual of Style. All hyperlinks should be removed or their font color changed to black.

The thesis should have the following elements in this order:

Title Page - standard (provided by Office of Academic Affairs).

Thesis Approval Form - standard (provided by Office of Academic Affairs).

Disclaimer - standard (provided by Office of Academic Affairs).

Abstract - is a brief summary of the thesis. Its length should not exceed approximately 250 words. It presents an introduction to the subject, the key statement of the thesis, and a summary of methodology, conclusions and caveats.

ABSTRACT (Bold, CAPS, Centered, 12 pt, Times New Roman)

Table of Contents - should include Chapter and Section titles. For formatting guidance, see Chicago Manual of Style, especially 1.37 and Figure 1.5.

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Bold, CAPS, Centered, 12 pt, Times New Roman) Chapter 1 - Page Numbering begins at numeral 1. The following formatting is recommended, but students may choose to distinguish between Titles, Headings, and Sub-headings differently, but the formatting must be consistent throughout.

CHAPTER NUMBER CHAPTER TITLE  (Bold, CAPS, Centered, 12 pt, Times New Roman) Section/Heading 1 (Bold, 12pt, Times New Roman) Sub-Section/Sub-Heading 1  (Bold, Italic, 12 pt, Times New Roman)

Bibliography - All sources should be listed in proper Chicago Manual of Style format in alphabetical order. As appropriate, the student and advisor may decide to organize the works cited according to themes (e.g., by chapter, by type of source, etc.).

BIBLIOGRAPHY  (Bold, CAPS, Centered, 12 pt, Times New Roman) Appendices, Glossaries, Abbreviations - For formatting guidance see Chicago Manual of Style Appendix B, or 1.43, 1.6, and 2.22.

APPENDIX 1 (Bold, CAPS, Centered, 12pt, Times New Roman)

About the Author (Optional)- 1-2 paragraphs including permanent contact information.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AUTHORS NAME (Bold, CAPS, Centered, 12 pt, Times New Roman)

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• International Security

About this Journal

International Security publishes lucid, well-documented essays on all aspects of the control and use of force. Its articles cover contemporary policy issues, and probe historical and theoretical questions behind them. Essays in International Security have defined the debate on American national security policy and have set the agenda for scholarship on international security affairs.

published by

Available issues, table of contents, volume 48, 2023-2024.

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Additional Information

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Additional Issue Materials

• Editorial Board -- Volume 45, Number 1, Summer 2020
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• Editorial Board -- Volume 40, Number 4, Spring 2016
• Editorial Board -- Volume 40, Number 3, Winter 2015/2016
• Editorial Board -- Volume 40, Number 2, Fall 2015
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• Editorial Board -- Volume 39, Number 4, Spring 2015

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International Security is America's leading peer-reviewed journal of security affairs.

Writing for International Security: A Contributor's Guide

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Author Teresa Johnson

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• International Security Program

The editors of International Security are often asked what we seek in an article. In the process of editing the journal, we also give a lot of advice on organizing and presenting an argument for publication. We decided to publish this guide for potential contributors to share "behind­the­scenes" thinking about how an article is selected and prepared for publication.

This is not a set of rules, but advice (some of it quite basic). It covers suggestions for solving some of the most common difficulties we see in many of the hundreds of manuscripts submitted every year. We hope that these reminders will be useful to potential contributors. 1

The guide begins with a review of the standards for selection of articles for publication. This is followed by advice on how to organize an argument; how to write and revise for maximum effect; and using and sharing criticism.

What Should an International Security Article Look Like? The editors and reviewers evaluate manuscripts on the basis of four primary criteria: subject, policy­relevance, observance of scholarly standards of evidence and argumentation, and readability.

The editors define the subject of international security broadly to cover all matters pertinent to the use, threat, and control of force. These include examinations of current policy choices; 2 analyses of theoretical issues 3 and of technical issues 4 of importance to current policy questions; and historical articles that present arguments and discoveries of relevance to current policy questions. 5 Very few submissions are rejected solely on the grounds that they lie beyond the journal''s purview.

More frequently, manuscripts fail to clear the "so what?" hurdle. Even if everything in the article is true, does it teach us something important? The editors look for articles that frame or solve at least part of an important puzzle. An article that hides in "the trivial, the formal, the methodological, the purely theoretical, the remotely historical—in short, the politically irrelevant" is not likely to make it into the journal's pages. 6

A third concern is that articles should observe the norms of argument and evidence that permit knowledge to accumulate. 7 The arguments and their limits and conditions should be stated clearly, so that there is no confusion about what is and is not argued. Statements of fact should be properly documented. Tests and evidence should be explained fully, so that the reader can assess whether they have been selected and used appropriately and fairly. Legitimate counter­arguments should be acknowledged and addressed. The article should summarize the debate of which it is part, and should specify what previous literature it confirms or revises. Articles that follow these standards will "contribute to the disciplined discourse that distinguishes a profession," an aspiration for the journal expressed in its first issue. 8

While the journal's main audience comprises professional scholars, analysts, and policymakers, it should also reach beyond specialists to journalists, students in college courses, and the broader public. 9 We aim, therefore, to make all writing in the journal's pages easy to comprehend. An article should explain enough relevant historical, technical, and theoretical background, and it should be so well organized and clearly presented, that a literate college undergraduate can easily grasp the significant points in one reading.

International Security has no "editorial line," but instead seeks to air views from all parts of the political spectrum, in the belief that scholarly and policy discussion are best advanced by an open and vigorous debate. All viewpoints are welcome as long as they are clearly argued and well­-supported. Indeed, the editors welcome manuscripts that make unorthodox arguments, because there is more to be learned from a new debate than from going over familiar ground.

Getting the Argument Across As editors, like any other readers, we are grateful for a well-written article that makes it easy to grasp and evaluate the substantive content. It is our experience, alas, that not all articles arriving on our doorstep meet that standard. 10 The advice that follows reflects the patterns of difficulties we see in many of the manuscripts submitted to International Security .

Articles should present ideas in a progression that will be logical and clear to the reader, not just to the author and his or her specialist colleagues. The more complex the ideas, the more important it is that they are presented to the reader in a form that is "user­-friendly."

The simplest, most telling order for presentation can be discovered by outlining the main and the subsidiary points and conditions of the argument, by making an arrow diagram of the argument, or by writing a summary introduction (see below). These steps should reveal whether all of the links in the chain are there, and can be arranged in a sensible order. I have often prepared an outline or a summary introduction of an article in order to discover what questions the author did not answer clearly in the manuscript, and how the material could be rearranged for greater clarity and less repetition. It can be useful to repeat this process with successive revisions, until the logic of the argument is as clear and clean as possible, and the logic is reflected in the architecture of the article. (See Figure 1 below).

If you wanted to explain why sometimes "e" happens and why sometimes "f" happens instead, you started with dependent variables "e" and "f" and figured things out all the way back to "a," including various conditions:

f is caused by c, if d is present, but if d is not present, then f doesn''t happen but e does, which is caused by c, and in either case c is caused by b, which is caused by a.

This makes the reader work too hard to absorb its meaning. In contrast, consider the relative simplicity of this way of stating the same causal chain:

a causes b, b causes c, c without d causes e, and c with d causes f.

Another way to describe the latter statement is that it moves from more remote to more specific causes (grammatically, it is active voice, rather than passive voice). It is easier to arrow-diagram, and easier for the reader to understand without confusion or undue effort.Figure 1. The arrow diagram and the chain of logic.

Writing and Revising Not every potential contributor to the journal devotes as much attention to presentation as to research and analysis. But if the article is already in good shape, editors can do a lot more to help the author make the article truly excellent. Toward that end, I offer some of the suggestions that many of the journal''s authors have found useful.

Why am I reading this article? We encourage authors to begin each article with a summary introduction, of a few paragraphs or pages, that gives the reader an outline of the argument. (If the argument is complex, a summary introduction is particularly valuable.) The summary introduction should answer the following questions:

• What question or questions does this article address?
• Why do these questions arise? What scholarly debate or current events set the context for the article?
• What answer or answers does the article offer?
• Why do these answers matter? How do they affect the debate from which they arise?
• What competing arguments or explanations does this article refute?
• How are the answers reached? Say a few words about methodology.
• How is this article organized? A "roadmap" paragraph should explain the structure of the sections that follow.

All seven elements may not be essential or appropriate for every article, but the question, the context, the answer, and the roadmap should always be up front. Material in the summary introduction of many International Security articles began its life as material written at the end of an earlier draft. During the process of writing, authors often refine the argument and write excellent summaries in the conclusion. If we then promote this material to the front, it does the reader more good. The conclusion might restate the main points of the argument, and may be the appropriate place (rather than the summary introduction) to explain the implications of the research for current debates. A conclusion can also indicate areas that, in light of this work, are now ripe for further research. If the summary introduction was complete, the conclusion might be quite short.

The body of the article Many of the manuscripts we see are longer than necessary. They contain sections that are there only, it seems, because the author did the research, not because they are necessary to the logic of the argument. We encourage authors to trim away material that does not fit the outline or the arrow diagram, in order to avoid distracting or confusing readers with extraneous material. Every section, paragraph, and sentence should be there only if it advances the argument. Many authors, having gone through the painful process of severe pruning, have declared the improvements to be well worth the trouble.

Like the article itself, each section should have an internal logic. One format that may be useful is to: (1) state the argument; (2) follow it with the supporting evidence; then (3) state the counter-­arguments, qualifications, and limits of the argument; and (4) end with a transition statement, summing up the argument so far, perhaps noting implications, and pointing the reader in the right direction for the next section or paragraph. 11 Systematically using this or another model (perhaps gleaned from writing guides or from another writer''s work) can make it easier to craft streamlined, yet comprehensive, outlines and first drafts.

Each paragraph should be organized around a main point that is stated at the beginning. A reader can then get a good idea of the substance of the article by reading the first sentence of each paragraph. Paragraphs, too, can be organized in the format suggested for sections.

"Hard writing, easy reading" It is more efficient if the author works hard on behalf of the reader, rather than the other way around (the ratio of authors to readers being what it is). I frequently encourage authors to explain more, rather than less, to define special terms and give background history, and to give examples, because few readers fully share the author''s familiarity with essential facts and ideas. If there is too much explanation in a draft, it can be trimmed later.

Many manuscripts that we see are not very explicit about their arguments and conclusions, and thus run the risk that readers will not be able to discern the author's main points. Readers are often confused when authors are not careful to make it clear why each statement is there: is it a description of the arguments of others with which the author agrees, or those with which the author disagrees? Are these the author''s own claims, or non­controversial background facts? Note where readers might go astray, and shape your language with precision to keep them on track.

Make every element do extra work Use every opportunity to focus the reader''s attention on the significant elements of your story. The title can restate the central point. Headings need not be mere labels ("Background" or "Conclusion"), but instead could be descriptive or prescriptive ("Saddam''s Strategy Was Bound to Fail"; "Conress Should Cancel the Boomerang Program").

Alternatives to text, such as graphs, pictures, tables, and charts, can sometimes serve better than text for presenting some kinds of information. 12 Sometimes it is useful to include in tables or charts the whole data set that the author collected (rather than just the few points that are pertinent to the argument), so that readers can extract other information and relationships.

Bibliographic footnotes that summarize the relevant literature are especially encouraged in International Security articles. They can tell the curious reader where to go for more, and which works are good, which are poor, which take one side in a controversy and which another. A few words of evaluation from the author can spare another researcher many hours of work. Notes need not be limited to citations and bibliographies; they can also state tangential points or minor arguments.

A final step in revising and editing is to try to strip out all unnecessary words and phrases; every word should count.

Using and Sharing Criticism Be aggressive in seeking out and identifying problems that should be fixed before the article goes public. Friendly critics can help an author anticipate attacks in order to preempt them and "bullet­proof" the article.

The quality of the manuscripts we see would undoubtedly be improved if more authors formed cooperative relationships with their colleagues to vet one another's drafts. Both colleagues and non­specialists (your husband, your mother, your chess partner) can give useful advice before an article is submitted for formal consideration. Does the innocent but curious stranger who is your potential reader have any hope of understanding your article in one reading?

In reacting to comments, it is a mistake to assume that a reader's confusion is due to stupidity or ignorance. Instead, seek out the reasons behind confusion, and try to contend with each criticism or suggestion. If you choose not to follow advice, be able to articulate why.

When someone has agreed to give you several hours of time to comment on an article, it is not a good idea to hand over a manuscript that is hard to read, with faint print, careless typing and spelling, or single­spaced type with no margins for comments. The word "draft" should mean "as good as I can make it." Fix what you already know how to fix, so that the advice of colleagues, journal editors, or reviewers can make the article even better than you could alone. (This point might seem too obvious to state if we did not so often have evidence to the contrary in our mailbox.)

Working with editors Even a submission that the author considers finished and polished may go through another revision after it has been accepted for publication. The editors'' interest is to make each article and each author look as good as possible, so we may recommend changes. You should always expect your editors (here or elsewhere) to have reasons for their suggestions, and you should feel free to debate those suggestions and reasons. 13 It is your name that goes on the article; subject to the journal's basic standards for format and for courteous and honest discourse, you have the final responsibility for content and presentation (and, of course, for errors).

You, Too, Can Write for Publication There is nothing magic about making your writing better; it is not necessary to wait for an editor''s intervention. Other articles that you find well-written may provide useful templates. Many good writers make a habit of thumbing through a writing guide once in a while for guidance, reminders, and inspiration. 14 And practice helps.  

*. Any time an author tries to thank an editor of this journal in an acknowledgement like this one, we delete it, because authors do not owe us any special thanks for doing our jobs. However, if I had been permitted to thank IS editors, I would have expressed my gratitude to three Managing Editors who have made this journal what it is, and who have taught me so much: Steven E. Miller, Stephen Van Evera, and Sean M. Lynn-Jones. Miriam Avins, Michael Desch, Ted Hopf, Chaim Kaufmann, John Mearsheimer, Jack Snyder, Mark Stoler, and Stephen Walt have also given me good advice on this guide and earlier versions that I developed to use in workshops for potential journal contributors.

1. Authors who want their articles considered for publication should send us three copies of their articles, with the notes as well as text double­spaced. Notes should follow the journal's standard format, which is explained (along with other details of submission and publication) in the journal''s stylesheet. Like most journals, International Security will send you a copy of the stylesheet (call us at [617] 495­1914); you can also figure out how to submit and what format is preferred by examining a recent copy of the journal.

Submissions go through an anonymous review process; this usually takes two to three months, sometimes more if we request a revision. The process of editing and final revision of articles selected for publication is often concentrated in days or weeks. It takes a little over three months after a final edited manuscript goes to press until the new issue appears.

2. For example, Michael E. Brown, "The U.S. Manned Bomber and Strategic Deterrence in the 1990s," International Security , Vol. 14, No. 2 (Fall 1989), pp. 4–46; Donald Rice, "The Manned Bomber and Strategic Deterrence: The U.S. Air Force Perspective," International Security , Vol. 15, No. 1 (Summer 1990), pp. 100–128; and Brown, "The Case Against the B­2," ibid., pp. 129–153.

3. See, for example, Stephen Peter Rosen, "New Ways of War: Understanding Military Innovation," International Security , Vol. 13, No. 1 (Summer 1988), pp. 134–168; Stephen M. Walt, "Alliance Formation and the Balance of World Power," International Security , Vol. 9, No. 4 (Spring 1985), pp. 3–43.

4. E.g., Barbara G. Levi, Frank N. von Hippel, and William Daugherty, "Civilian Casualties from 'Limited' Nuclear Attacks on the Soviet Union," International Security , Vol. 12, No. 3 (Winter 1987/88), pp. 168–189; Donald MacKenzie, "The Soviet Union and Strategic Missile Guidance," International Security , Vol. 13, No. 2 (Fall 1988), pp. 5–54.

5. Historical articles in our pages have included: Holger Herwig, "Clio Deceived: Patriotic Self­Censorship in Germany After the Great War," International Security , Vol. 12, No. 2 (Fall 1987) pp. 5–45; David Alan Rosenberg, "The Origins of Overkill: Nuclear Weapons and American Strategy, 1945–1960," International Security , Vol. 7, No. 4 (Spring 1983), pp. 3–71.

6. Quotation from Hans J. Morgenthau, "The Purpose of Political Science," in James C. Charlesworth, ed., A Design for Political Science: Scope, Objectives, and Methods (Philadelphia: American Academy of Political and Social Science, 1966), p. 73.

7. A surprising number of submissions to International Security , perhaps because of the journal's policy orientation, lean toward the polemical rather than the well­argued. Potential contributors will know how standards for evidence and argument are applied in their particular fields, but it may nevertheless be helpful to contemplate how others have thought about method. A sample of such work includes: Alexander L. George, "Case Studies and Theory Development: The Method of Structured, Focused Comparison," in Paul G. Lauren, ed., Diplomacy (New York: Free Press, 1979), pp. 43–68; Alexander L. George and Timothy J. McKeown, "Case Studies and Theories of Organizational Decision Making," in Advances in Information Processing in Organizations , Vol. 2 (Greenwich, Conn.: JAI Press, 1985), pp. 21–58; Karl Popper, The Logic of Scientific Discovery (New York: Basic Books, 1959); Thomas S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1970); Imre Lakatos, "Falsification and the Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes," in Imre Lakatos and Alan Musgrave, eds., Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge (London: Cambridge University Press, 1970), pp. 91–196; Ernst Nagel, The Structure of Science (New York: Harcourt, Brace, and World, 1961), esp. chaps. 1, 2, 13; Theda Skocpol and Margaret Sommers, "The Uses of Comparative History in Macrosocial Inquiry," Comparative Studies in Society and History , Vol. 22, No. 2 (April 1980), pp. 174–197; Jack Snyder, "Richness, Rigor, and Relevance in the Study of Soviet Foreign Policy," International Security , Vol. 9, No. 3 (Winter 1984/85), pp. 89–108; Arthur L. Stinchcombe, Constructing Social Theories (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987); Kenneth Waltz, Theory of International Politics (Reading, Mass.: Addison­Wesley, 1983), pp. 11–7.

8. The editors, "Foreword," International Security , Vol. 1, No. 1 (Summer 1976), p. 2.

9. At IS , we work with authors to publicize articles broadly: we issue a press release about each issue to several hundred journalists, and we encourage authors to write op-eds based on their articles. Op-eds provide an excellent forum for influencing public debate and policymaking, as well as garnering attention for the article in which the full argument is explicated. Op-ed page editors are looking for a view that is contrary to the conventional wisdom on an issue they haven't covered, not another "on the one hand, on the other hand" piece. An op-ed is just big enough (2–3 double-­spaced pages) for a single forceful idea that the author, and the reader, can summarize in a sentence. In response to a phone call, newspapers will divulge their guidelines for submission.

10. The field of security studies, while not alone in suffering this ailment, has been afflicted with a "literary style [that] is often atrocious. The uninitiated has to work his way through a forbidding miasma of acronyms and jargon." Lawrence Freedman, The Evolution of Nuclear Strategy , second ed. (New York: St. Martins, 1989), p. xix.

11. For a good example of a highly theoretical work that is nevertheless easy to read and understand, in part because the author is generous with intermediate summaries of the argument, see Robert Axelrod, The Evolution of Cooperation (New York: Basic Books, 1984).

12. Figures, tables, arrow diagrams, and charts can help readers see relationships of many kinds besides numerical ones. For recent examples, see: John W. Lewis, Hua Di, and Xue Litai, "Beijing's Defense Establishment: Solving the Arms­ Export Enigma," International Security , Vol. 15, No. 4 (Spring 1991), p. 89; Figure 1 depicts the relationships of various players, governmental and otherwise, in the Chinese arms ­export business; and Stephen M. Walt, "The Case for Finite Containment: Analyzing U.S. Grand Strategy," International Security , Vol. 14, No. 1 (Summer 1989), p. 41. Table 1 categorizes six alternative U.S. grand strategies, their significant characteristics, and principal proponents.

13. For an airing of common complaints about editors and a philosophy for dealing with them, see N. David Mermin, "What''s Wrong with this Prose?" Physics Today , May 1989, p. 9.

14. Among my current favorite writing guides are William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, The Elements of Style , third ed. (New York: Macmillan, 1979) (time-­tested, sensible, brief ); and Joseph Williams, Style: Toward Clarity and Grace (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990) (illuminating about how the English language works, and how to make it work better). For guidance on formats and the publication process overall, we rely on The Chicago Manual of Style , 13th ed., rev. and exp. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982).

Accurate, usable and hilarious references on grammar and punctuation, respectively, are Karen Elizabeth Gordon, The Transitive Vampire: A Grammar Handbook for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed (New York: Times Books, 1984); and Gordon, The Well­-Tempered Sentence: A Punctuation Handbook for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed (New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1983).

Or try one of the following, or their neighbors in the library stacks or on the bookstore shelves: Jacques Barzun, Simple and Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers (New York: Harper and Row, 1975); Peter Elbow, Writing with Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process (New York: Oxford University Press, 1981); V.A. Howard and J.H. Barton, Thinking on Paper (New York: Morrow, 1986); Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations , 5th ed., rev. and exp. by Bonnie Birtwhistle Honigsblum (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987); William Zinsser, On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction , 3rd ed., rev. and enl. (New York: Harper and Row, 1985).

Johnson, Teresa. “Writing for International Security: A Contributor's Guide.”

International Security & Defense International Security Program

Teresa Johnson

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