B8290 - CRIME AND (IN)SECURITY IN EUROPE

Learning outcomes

This undergraduate module provides students with an understanding of the complexities surrounding crimes, national and international security, the process of securitisation, and the rise of human insecurity within a European context. Students will develop analytical skills to evaluate the impact of various types of crime, such as organised crime, cybercrime, terrorism, and the radicalisation of fringe movements on European societies, economies, and political structures. Additionally, students will assess the effectiveness of different crime prevention and security policies and structures implemented at local, national, and EU levels, considering their implications for civil liberties, human rights, and collective insecurity. Through comparative lenses, students will examine crime trends and security challenges across various European countries, taking into account cultural, legal, and socio-economic factors. They will also gain research skills, enabling them to understand how social research methodologies can support synthesising information from diverse sources at European levels. The module encourages an interdisciplinary and critical perspective, allowing students to integrate insights from criminology, sociology, political science, and law to develop a holistic understanding of the issues at hand. Lastly, students will reflect on the ethical implications of crime and security realities and practices in Europe, addressing issues of social justice, inequality, and the balance between security and freedom.

Course contents

The course will be articulated in two modules:

First module: Human Security and Crime

This introductory module will be an introduction to the paradigms of security, at state and international levels, with specific emphasis on the concept of human security, as complementary concept. In this module, questions on whose security and security for whom will be central to the discussion, challenging the notion of borders. In this module we will also introduce the concept of European ‘serious’ criminality, which challenges the paradigms of state, international and human security. The topics of this first module are the following:

• ⁃Security: for whom? By whom?
• ⁃State and International Security
• ⁃Borders and Security in Europe
• ⁃Human Security
• ⁃'Serious’ criminality and the challenges to security
• Race/ethnicity and decolonial paradigms

 

 

Second Module: European ‘Serious’ Crimes and (In)Security in Europe

• This module will reflect on the process of securitisation, by looking at some of the key crime types that pose a threat to security in Europe. We will look at these crimes through the lenses of the human security paradigm, to understand how they are ‘securitised’ and to capture the insecurity that originates from their securitisation. The topics of this second module are the following:

• ⁃Terrorism, Extremisms, Radicalisation
• ⁃War and state crime
• ⁃Urban Violence and Political Unrest
• ⁃Organised Crimes
• ⁃Climate Change
• ⁃Mobility/Migration-related crimes
• -other (TBD)

 

Readings/Bibliography

For attending students (attending at least 70% of classes - monitored)

The core topics for module 1 and 2 are covered in the textbook of the course:

• Rossi and Riemann (2024) Security Studies: an Applied Introduction, SAGE.

  Module 1 is covered in the textbook Part I: Security, History, Theories and Institutions (Chapters 1-5) plus chapters 15 & 20 in PART II.  Module 2 topics correspond to specific chapters of the textbook Part II: Security Challenges (7, 8, 16, 9, 17, 12, 17, 14, 13) 

        Extra resources will be given in class and on Virtuale.

For NON attending students:

Students who are NOT attending shall study and prepare by reading the whole textbook

• Rossi and Riemann (2024) Security Studies: an Applied Introduction, SAGE.

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Teaching methods

The course is taught in person in class; lectures also include practice, review and discussion sessions. Each lecture provides a reference framework for the topics covered with the support of summary slides, video and audio materials, case studies; these materials are made available to students on the Unibo Virtuale platform. Participation in group discussions is actively encouraged.

Assessment methods

For attending students (attending at least 70% of classes - monitored)

Students attending the course in person will undergo an in-class assessment toward the end of the semester. The exact date will be announced at the start of the lectures. Specifically, they will be asked to complete an in-class exercise (e.g., a "Hyper-Local & Hyper-Recent" scenario, a policy brief, or a "Spot the AI error" task on a policy brief) using the human security framework; to assess the described global-local crime; to understand the factors that drive insecurity; and to imagine European and non‑European responses. This will take the form of a two-hour written/in‑class exam (handwritten or computer-based). Further details will be provided during the lectures. The maximum score for each assessment is 30/30; the pass mark is 18/30 or above. The midterm assessment will contribute to the final grade.

If a student receives a failing grade on this midterm assessment, before the examination session they must make up during the oral exam session like non attending students. Access to the oral exam will be conditional on passing the make‑up presentation and cannot be postponed to a later exam session.

Passing grades obtained in the midterm assessment will remain valid through and including the September 2026 exam session.

For the 2026–27 academic year, the midterm assessment is scheduled for late November 2026 or early December 2026, and the instructor reserves the right to confirm the exact date at the start of the teaching period.

The oral exam consists of an interview intended to verify knowledge of lecture contents, textbook chapters and case studies, the ability to present them correctly, and the capacity to draw connections between different areas or issues.

For NON attending students:

Students not attending the classroom will have an extended reading list as detailed above. During the exam day there will be a written test which could be a mix of quiz and open ended short questions for a total of approx 30 mins. Access to the rest of the exam will be subject to passing the test which will be passed with a score equal to or higher than 18/30 (max 30). The oral exam consists of an interview to verify the learning of the contents of the lessons, textbook chapters and case studies, their correct presentation and the ability to make connections between the different areas or problems. The preparation of those students who demonstrate that they have acquired knowledge, analytical skills and connection of the main events and phenomena relating to European ‘serious’ criminality and (in)security in Europe will be assessed as excellent/very good. The assessment will be graded in proportion to any gaps demonstrated by the student with respect to the aforementioned knowledge and skills; in the event of serious deficiencies in preparation, an insufficient assessment may be assigned.

Please note: During the exam session, the written test and the interview take place on the same day and it is not possible to "keep" the sufficient grade obtained in the presentation for a subsequent exam session.

Teaching tools

Projector and computer – slides and other materials for lectures will be on Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Anna Sergi