Black Sea Security

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This course focuses on security issues in the Black Sea region, which has historically been a politically fragmented and strategically volatile area. Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine as well as conflicts in Georgia, Moldova, and between Armenia and Azerbaijan (to name a few) highlight the potential for instability and strategic contagion, but the potential for Euro-Atlantic integration and rival vectors such as the Eurasian Economic Union and Belt and Road Initiative suggest opportunities for regional cooperation and engagement. In this course, students will explore the chief security dilemmas in the region and analyze them in the context of broader policy considerations. The course will cover a range of security topics and scenarios, and students will be expected to conduct policy-oriented research and analysis. Some of the questions that will be addressed in the course include: How does Russia’s war against Ukraine affect wider European security and international peace? Is Moldova’s constitutional neutrality an impediment or a source of security? Is Turkish engagement with Russia a cooperative endeavor or part of its larger strategic ambitions? Can Ukraine and Georgia be postmodern liberal states abroad but zero-sum realists in their neighborhood? How far should the United States and Europe be willing to police and enforce the Helsinki principles? Students will learn from experienced practitioners, including guest speakers, and both analyze and propose policy alternatives around regional security issues. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the security issues in the Black Sea region and the complexities involved in policymaking in this area.