Singapore University of Social Sciences

Government and Security

Government and Security (SEC333)

Synopsis

The central concepts of legitimacy, authority and power are the pillars of all modern governments regardless of their ideological positions. Students will learn to criticize the three arms of government, viz., legislature, executive and the judiciary. The course relates the concepts of legitimacy, authority, power and justice to the security of modern states. Relevant security issues are evaluated in terms of the state and civil society, defence, health and environment. Modern governments from around the world will be used to illustrate their different approaches to security as well as the common ground that such state security approaches share.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every July

Topics

  • Introduction to government and security in Southeast Asia (Power and the State)
  • Introduction to government and security in Southeast Asia (Defining the State and Modernity)
  • Legitimacy, authority and power (emphasis on legitimacy and authority)
  • Legitimacy, authority and power (emphasis on power)
  • Legislature, executive and judiciary in late modernity (who checks the checker)
  • Legislature, executive and judiciary in late modernity (mixed government and government in reality)
  • Security and power in Southeast Asia in late modernitiy (the state, power and Southeast Asia)
  • Security and power in Southeast Asia in late modernitiy (illegal weapons, the state of the military, corruption, and money politics)
  • Security, state power,and civil society in Southeast Asia (Malaysia and Thailand)
  • Security, st

Learning Outcome

  • Debate issues in Southeast Asian government.
  • Appraise the definition of government in terms of legitimate power.
  • Examine the notion of government in terms of authoritative power.
  • Contrast the meaning of government in terms of executive power.
  • Question how authoritarianism works against democracy.
  • Discuss the differences between authoritarianism and democracy.
  • Relate how governments work in Southeast Asia.
  • Compare state security and power in Southeast Asia.
  • Examine the classical and modern forms of states in Asia and the West.
  • Infer how politics arises from modern governments.
  • Differentiate defence, health, and environmental security in late modernity.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of government and security policies in practice.
  • Solve practical policy problems in governance.
  • Practice academic writing (political science).
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