IR5041
Social Identity and the Making of Community: Anxiety, Threat and Security
2011-2012
30
15
SCQF level 11
2
Academic year(s): 2011-2012
SCOTCAT credits : 30
ECTS credits : 15
Level : SCQF level 11
Semester: 2
Planned timetable:
This module explores the making of communities, which is a concept often taken for granted. Communities are dynamic entities, the characters of which change and develop, and are bounded by modes of practice, by norms of behaviour, by space, by language, and occasionally by time. Students will examine how groups create senses of identity and how individuals are either welcomed into these communities or are excluded. Whether one is inside or outside a community, understanding the stakes of approaching an individual or a group has profound repercussions for cooperation, safety and security. For those specifically charged with enhancing safety, there is a challenge to understand what communities are present within a given physical space, how to recognise their modes of interaction, and how the security concerns of one group may impact on others. This module focuses on community engagement and security in complex social environments.