War Studies
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to offer an introduction to the study of war as a recurrent phenomenon of international politics. First, it outlines the main conceptual and theoretical tools of Strategic Studies. Second, it introduces students to the evolution of Western strategic thought, with a focus on the main domains of warfare - land, sea, air, the nuclear domain. Third, it presents some of the current strategic debates and their implications for military doctrines in the West and beyond.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to (1) engage in theoretical discussions regarding war in international politics as well as to (2) apply the conceptual and theoretical tools of Strategic Studies to the analysis of specific wars and the way how they are waged. In particular, students will be able to: i. identify the different levels of analysis that account for the occurrence of wars; ii. disentangle the strategic, operational and tactical dimensions of wars; iii. identify the main issues related to the conduct of war in different domains; and iv. grasp some of the current dilemmas involved in the formulation of military doctrines.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The first part of the course will provide the conceptual and theoretical foundations for the study of war. It will outline the concepts of strategy, operations and tactics, and introduce students to the evolution of Western strategic thought. This part of the course will overview key issues in land, naval and air warfare, as well as in nuclear deterrence. The second part of the course will turn to the way how armed forces prepare to wage war, with a focus on military doctrines and their formulation. Based on case studies, this part of the course will review some of the current strategic debates and discuss how they have been shaping the military doctrines of the major powers.
Prerequisites for admission
Preliminary knowledge of International Relations Theory and Contemporary History is required.
Teaching methods
Attending students will be involved in the preparation of class presentations on the military doctrines of the main powers. Working in groups, students will apply the conceptual and theoretical tools introduced in the first part of the course to analyse doctrinal documents from the United States, Russia, China and other powers.
Teaching Resources
ATTENDING STUDENTS
1. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010): "The Age and Mindset of the Napoleonic Paradigm", pp. 113-136.
2. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010): "The Napoleonic Paradigm Transformed. From Total Mobilisation to Total War", pp. 137-170.
3. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010): "The World Wars and Their Lessons for Maritime Strategists", pp. 248-267.
4. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010): "Four Schools of Air Power", pp. 313-350.
5. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010): "Nuclear Strategy", pp. 350-386.
6. Andrew Latham, "Warfare Transformed: A Braudelian Perspective on the 'Revolution in Military Affairs'", European Journal of International Relations, Vol. 8, No. 2 (2002), pp. 231-266.
7. Dima P. Adamsky, "Through the Looking Glass: The Soviet Military-Technical Revolution and the American Revolution in Military Affairs", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 31, No. 2 (2008), pp. 257-294.
8. Stephen P. Rosen, "The Impact of the Office of Net Assessment on the American Military in the Matter of the Revolution in Military Affairs", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 33, No. 4 (2010), pp. 469-482.
9. Paul Dixon, "'Hearts and Minds'? British Counter-Insurgency from Malaya to Iraq", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 32, No. 3 (2009), pp. 353-381.
10. Emanuele Castelli, Simone Dossi and Lorenzo Zambernardi, "Lost in Transition. The Myth of Mao and the Origins of COIN", Small Wars & Insurgencies, Vol. 32, No. 2 (2021), pp. 320-343.
11. Douglas Porch, "The Dangerous Myths and Dubious Promise of COIN", Small Wars & Insurgencies, Vol. 22, No. 2 (2011), pp. 239-257.
12. Jon R. Lindsay, "Reinventing the Revolution: Technological Visions, Counterinsurgent Criticism, and the Rise of Special Operations", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 36, No. 3 (2013), pp. 422-453.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
1. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010), chapters 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
2. One of the following books: Dima P. Adamsky, The Culture of Military Innovation. The Impact of Cultural Factors on the Revolution in Military Affairs in Russia, the US, and Israel (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2010); Douglas Porch, Counterinsurgency. Exposing the Myths of the New Way of War (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013). Students who choose the book by Porch are not required to read chapters 15 and 16 of Heuser's The Evolution of Strategy.
1. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010): "The Age and Mindset of the Napoleonic Paradigm", pp. 113-136.
2. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010): "The Napoleonic Paradigm Transformed. From Total Mobilisation to Total War", pp. 137-170.
3. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010): "The World Wars and Their Lessons for Maritime Strategists", pp. 248-267.
4. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010): "Four Schools of Air Power", pp. 313-350.
5. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010): "Nuclear Strategy", pp. 350-386.
6. Andrew Latham, "Warfare Transformed: A Braudelian Perspective on the 'Revolution in Military Affairs'", European Journal of International Relations, Vol. 8, No. 2 (2002), pp. 231-266.
7. Dima P. Adamsky, "Through the Looking Glass: The Soviet Military-Technical Revolution and the American Revolution in Military Affairs", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 31, No. 2 (2008), pp. 257-294.
8. Stephen P. Rosen, "The Impact of the Office of Net Assessment on the American Military in the Matter of the Revolution in Military Affairs", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 33, No. 4 (2010), pp. 469-482.
9. Paul Dixon, "'Hearts and Minds'? British Counter-Insurgency from Malaya to Iraq", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 32, No. 3 (2009), pp. 353-381.
10. Emanuele Castelli, Simone Dossi and Lorenzo Zambernardi, "Lost in Transition. The Myth of Mao and the Origins of COIN", Small Wars & Insurgencies, Vol. 32, No. 2 (2021), pp. 320-343.
11. Douglas Porch, "The Dangerous Myths and Dubious Promise of COIN", Small Wars & Insurgencies, Vol. 22, No. 2 (2011), pp. 239-257.
12. Jon R. Lindsay, "Reinventing the Revolution: Technological Visions, Counterinsurgent Criticism, and the Rise of Special Operations", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 36, No. 3 (2013), pp. 422-453.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
1. Beatrice Heuser, The Evolution of Strategy. Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010), chapters 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
2. One of the following books: Dima P. Adamsky, The Culture of Military Innovation. The Impact of Cultural Factors on the Revolution in Military Affairs in Russia, the US, and Israel (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2010); Douglas Porch, Counterinsurgency. Exposing the Myths of the New Way of War (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013). Students who choose the book by Porch are not required to read chapters 15 and 16 of Heuser's The Evolution of Strategy.
Assessment methods and Criteria
For attending students, the final evaluation will be based on: (1) active participation during classes and the presentation of the assigned readings (30 percent of the final mark); and (2) a written exam at the end of the course (70 percent of the final mark). For non-attending students, the final evaluation will be based on a written exam.
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Dossi Simone
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Dossi SimoneProfessor(s)
Reception:
On Tuesdays from 2.30 to 5.30 pm (in person or online via Teams). Students are kindly requested to make an appointment in advance via email.
Dipartimento di Studi internazionali, giuridici e storico-politici, via Conservatorio 7, 1st floor, room 8