Strategic Studies

The Strategic Studies course aims to provide students with the elements necessary to understand the nature and rationale for using military force in the realm of international politics. Teaching focuses on the concepts underlying Strategy (intended as the link between the political interests of actors in the international arena and the use of military force).
More specifically, the course will define the "spectrum" of strategic action (deterrence/compellence/war) and will specify the levels with which military force is applied (tactical and strategic) and the primary domains of warfare (technological, logistical, social, operational). Teaching will also reconstruct how military practice and strategic theory (the cornerstones of military thought) have influenced each other in the contemporary era, and will outline the tenets of naval and air warfare (conventional and nuclear) Finally, the course will highlight the progression of Strategy since the end of the Cold War, focusing on debate surrounding the "Revolution in Military Affairs", the advent of cyberwar, trends in irregular warfare (guerrilla warfare, armed insurgencies) and hybrid warfare.

Upon completion of the course, students will have a firm grasp of the military dimension of international relations and the reasoning for strategic action by international political actors. Students will also be able to distinguish between the different levels of military force deployed (tactical and strategic), know the concepts of deterrence, identify the major facets of warfare (logistics, operational technology, social), highlight the interaction between the different geostrategic arenas of war (land, sea, air, cyberspace) and understand the specificities of regular, irregular and hybrid warfare.
By understanding Strategy, students will add a valuable element to their body of knowledge acquired during their studies in International Relations and will significantly enhance their ability to read and interpret events in international politics, in addition to benefiting them as they continue along their study or career path in the international arena.