Strategic Studies (Online Module)

In light of events in the past decade and the multiplicity of different actors involved in Kosovo, Chechnya, Columbia, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Sudan, DRC not to mention Iraq and Afghanistan the study of Strategy continues to be relevant to global order in the 21st century. Given prominence during the Cold War in light of the possibility of catastrophic nuclear exchange, Strategic Studies’ demise was forecast with the collapse of the communist bloc. Instead this field of international relations has enjoyed a renaissance in the past twenty years and this module considers the fundamental question of why this is the case. In doing so this module addresses a range of strategic influences which shape global politics, including; the attributes of ‘Power’ and ‘Force’ and concepts at work in Strategic Studies (deterrence for example); issues of Strategic Culture, Asymmetric/Irregular warfare, technological change, International Law and the role of international security providers such as NATO. This all builds toward providing students with the necessary skills to address the relationship between strategy and policy through a series of case studies from US involvement in Vietnam through to contemporary conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

All modules are subject to availability and are subject to change from session to session.

Suggested reading

Baylis J., Wirtz J. and Gray C. (2016) Strategy in the Contemporary World 5th Edition, (Oxford University Press, Oxford)

Freedman L. (2013) Strategy: A History, (Oxford University Press, Oxford)

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules