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The Politics of Cyber Security


Course Description

An introduction to the basics of cyber security, with a focus on its humanistic, social, and political implications. Exploration of the empirical and normative themes that relate cyber security to our students as members of a community, a society, and a nation.


Athena Title

The Politics of Cyber Security


Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in INTL 4666E


Pre or Corequisite

INTL 3200 or INTL 3200E or INTL 3200H or INTL 3300 or INTL 3300E or INTL 3300H


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Student learning Outcomes

  • By the end of this course, students will be able to recall and apply key concepts in international affairs (e.g., the international system, actors in the international system, the principles of sovereignty and anarchy).
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to compare and contrast various political systems and consider their advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of different societal actors.
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to explain, critique, and apply the major theoretical approaches and models used within international relations and comparative politics.
  • By the end of this course, students will have practice evaluating the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events, by choosing and applying appropriate theoretical models, interpreting and contextualizing past research findings, and/or analyzing empirical data (qualitative or quantitative).
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to locate sources of data and evaluate their credibility and their appropriateness for testing a given theory or hypothesis.
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to articulate opinions on certain global issues, informed by the application of theoretical models, research findings, and/or empirical data (qualitative or quantitative).
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to express their opinions on certain global issues through formal writing assignments and have the opportunity to revise and refine their writing in response to feedback from the instructor.
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to identify the key components of social science research.
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to appreciate and analyze policy interdependence--that is, how the choices that one actor or group of actors make (e.g., citizens, firms, countries) affect the lives and decisions of other actors or groups of actors.

Topical Outline

  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Fundamentals about the Cyber Society
  • 3. The Sources of Cyber Threats: A General Introduction
  • 4. Cyber Security and Individuals
  • 5. Cyber Security and Organizations
  • 6. Cyber Security and Nations
  • 7. Cyber Security and Democracy
  • 8. Cyber Security and the Future of Humanity