POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Bachelor	TR-NQF-HE: Level 6	QF-EHEA: First Cycle	EQF-LLL: Level 6

Ders Genel Tanıtım Bilgileri

Course Code:

POL4414

Ders İsmi:

Strategic Studies and Military Technology

Ders Yarıyılı:

Fall
Spring

Ders Kredileri:

Theoretical	Practical	Credit	ECTS
3	0	3	6

Language of instruction:

English

Ders Koşulu:

Ders İş Deneyimini Gerektiriyor mu?:

Type of course:

Departmental Elective

Course Level:

Bachelor

TR-NQF-HE:6. Master`s Degree

QF-EHEA:First Cycle

EQF-LLL:6. Master`s Degree

Mode of Delivery:

Hybrid

Course Coordinator :

Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU

Course Lecturer(s):

Course Assistants:

Dersin Amaç ve İçeriği

Course Objectives:

This course familiarizes the students with the history of strategic thinking to help understand the place of military technologies in modern strategy. Drawing a bridge between international relations, strategic studies and security studies, the course puts the theory of strategy into practice by analyzing various cases in different geographies against the background of continuous advancements in military technology.

Course Content:

Introduction to security, strategy and technology; strategic theory; strategic culture; geography and strategy; intelligence and strategy; evolution of modern warfare; technology and warfare; irregular warfare (terrorism and insurgency); conventional power in the 21st century; nuclear weapons in the 21st century; rise of cyberpower; new agenda for strategy.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;

Learning Outcomes

1 - Knowledge
Theoretical - Conceptual
2 - Skills
Cognitive - Practical
3 - Competences
Communication and Social Competence
Learning Competence
Field Specific Competence
Competence to Work Independently and Take Responsibility

Ders Akış Planı

Week	Subject	Related Preparation
1)	Introduction to Security, Strategy and Technology	• Barry Buzan, “Introduction" • Petr Suchy, “Role of Security and Strategic Studies within International Relations Studies" • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.1
2)	Strategic Theory	• Michael I. Handel, Masters of War: Classical Strategic Thought, Chp.2. • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz4FNBj1APA (Sun Tzu - The Art of War Explained in 5 Minutes/ short and fun, yet very informative!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8K312sz9to&t=1389s (Clausewitz: His Life and Work / first 35 mins. would be enough)
3)	Strategic Culture	• Kerry Longhurst, Germany and the Use of Force, Chp.7 • Roger E. Kanet, “Russian Strategic Culture, Domestic Politics and Cold War 2.0” • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnAMo12odS4 (Russian vs Ukrainian Strategic Culture: The Nuclear Weapons Perception / first 40 mins. would be enough) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MGGgxlrORw&t=21s (The Responsibility to Defend: Rethinking Germany’s Strategic Culture)
4)	Geography and Strategy	• Thomas G. Mahnken and Joseph A. Maiolo (eds). Strategic Studies, Chps. 7-9 • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.15 & 18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdduzOPz6Zw (Tank Revolutionary: J.F.C. Fuller's Diary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEe8JX0YKBE (Naval strategy of Alfred T. Mahan / includes a comparison with Julian Corbett) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KKJ_fxOwY4 (Air Power! A history with Dr James Rogers)
5)	Intelligence and Strategy	• Steve Chan, “The Intelligence of Stupidity" • Stephen Marin, “Why Strategic Intelligence Analysis Has Limited Influence on American Foreign Policy” • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MANsEfe5uw (Conversations with Strategy: Former MI6 Chief, John Sawers on intelligence and diplomacy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbnWxeI_tvY (Interview with former CIA-Analyst: Ray McGovern)
6)	Law, Politics and The Use of Force	• James R. Walker, “The Rise of GEOINT" • Ruth Blakely, “Drones, State Terrorism and International Law” • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpt-web6N6Y (Drones Are Not Ethical and Effective by Prof. Jeremy Waldron \| Oxford Union) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G99A8LAKnaU (Drones Are Ethical and Effective by Kenneth Anderson \| Oxford Union) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izd2qOgOGQI (Artificial Intelligence and Its Ethics)
7)	WRAP UP AND Q&A
8)	The Evolution of Modern Warfare	• Thomas G. Mahnken and Joseph A. Maiolo (eds). Strategic Studies, Chp.19 • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQajs_sIryA (Weapons Evolution \| 40,000BC - 2020)
9)	Technology and Warfare	• Kenneth Payne, “Artificial Intelligence: A Revolution in Strategic Affairs?” • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmlBkW6ANsQ (The future of modern warfare: How technology is transforming conflict) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpwHszy7bMk (How AI is driving a future of autonomous warfare) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Cj9oGkN8k (Hypersonic missiles arms race: What you need to know)
10)	Irregular Warfare: Terrorism and Insurgency	• Thomas G. Mahnken and Joseph A. Maiolo (eds). Strategic Studies, Chp.15 • Osman Antwi-Boateng, "Panislamic Terrorism" • Rao Komar et al. "The Blackwater of Jihad" • Christina Schori Liang, "Unveiling the ‘United Cyber Caliphate’" • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLOwkYS6Uyc (Terrorism and Counterterrorism) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L9VxCg_-VQ (Why extremist militias are on the rise in the West African Sahel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P-5fDMcSAQ (Iraq War: Insurgency and Counterinsurgency) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1DJHcju-oA (How Taliban Expanded in Afghanistan During America's Longest War \| WSJ)
11)	Conventional Power in the 21st Century	•Robert Peters et al., “Deterrence in the 21st Century” • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho3F2rje1Zg (The Military Balance 2021 launch) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crm563FsCaw (By Parity and Presence: Deterring Russia with Conventional Land Forces)
12)	Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century	• Thomas G. Mahnken and Joseph A. Maiolo (eds). Strategic Studies, Chp.12 • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7hOpT0lPGI (I've studied nuclear war for 35 years -- you should be worried. \| Brian Toon) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb-eg9P-HAM (How North Korea Appears to Be Expanding Its Nuclear Arsenal) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCi02gBqsH4 (How nuclear-powered submarines work and how they compare to other types of submarines)
13)	The Rise of Cyberpower	• Kenneth Geers, “Sun Tzu and Cyber War” • Ricardo A. Crespo, “Currency Warfare and Cyber Warfare” • John Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.17 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nVq7f26-Uo (The Five Laws of Cybersecurity \| Nick Espinosa) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L78r7YD-kNw (The Future of Cyberwarfare \| Origins: The Journey of Humankind) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW__A5V-EmQ (Russia Perfected Its Cyberwarfare In Ukraine)
14)	New Agenda for Strategy WRAP UP AND Q&A	• Marina Malamud, “The Environment as a Factor in Small Wars” • Eli Stiefel, “Threat Multiplier" • Baylis et al. (ed.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, Chp.21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMSHxUr2Fjk (Film Chronicles Rise and Fall of Eco-Terrorist Cell) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2bkc4xYe2M (The silent victim of Colombia’s long war: the environment) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNUuIA1Pam8 (The Resource Curse)

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks:

Weekly readings will be uploaded on ItsLearning at the beginning of the semester. Please note that all book chapters and articles listed on the syllabus are also accessible through the BAU Library.
The PPT files will be shared on ItsLearning following each class.
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Haftalık ders okumalarının tamamı, dönem başında ItsLearning’e yüklenir. Ders izlencesinde yer alan tüm kitap bölümleri ve makalelere BAU Kütüphanesi’nden de erişilebilir.
PowerPoint dosyaları, hafta bazında ve işlenen ders sonrasında ItsLearning’e yüklenir.

References:

Youtube videos on related subjects.

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İşlenen konularla ilgili Youtube videoları.

Ders - Program Öğrenme Kazanım İlişkisi

Ders Öğrenme Kazanımları
Program Outcomes
1) Grasp basic theoretical and conceptual knowledge about the field and relations between them at the level of practice.
2) Possess basic knowledge about the causes and effects of political transformations in societies.
3) Possess knowledge about quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods in social and behavioral sciences.
4) Recognize historical patterns while evaluating contemporary political and social developments.
5) Demonstrate interdisciplinary and critical approach while analyzing, synthesizing and forecasting domestic and foreign policy.
6) Conduct studies in the field professionally, both independently or as a team member.
7) Possess consciousness about lifelong learning based on Research & Development.
8) Communicate with peers both orally and in writing, by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio B1 General Level and the necessary informatics and communication technologies.
9) Apply field-related knowledge and competences into career advancement, projects for sustainable development goals, and social responsibility initiatives.
10) Possess the habit to monitor domestic and foreign policy agenda as well as international developments.
11) Possess competence to interpret the new political actors, theories and concepts in a global era.
12) Evaluate the legal and ethical implications of advanced technologies on politics.

Ders - Öğrenme Kazanımı İlişkisi

No Effect	1 Lowest	2 Low	3 Average	4 High	5 Highest

	Program Outcomes	Level of Contribution
1)	Grasp basic theoretical and conceptual knowledge about the field and relations between them at the level of practice.	5
2)	Possess basic knowledge about the causes and effects of political transformations in societies.	3
3)	Possess knowledge about quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods in social and behavioral sciences.
4)	Recognize historical patterns while evaluating contemporary political and social developments.	3
5)	Demonstrate interdisciplinary and critical approach while analyzing, synthesizing and forecasting domestic and foreign policy.	3
6)	Conduct studies in the field professionally, both independently or as a team member.	3
7)	Possess consciousness about lifelong learning based on Research & Development.	3
8)	Communicate with peers both orally and in writing, by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio B1 General Level and the necessary informatics and communication technologies.	5
9)	Apply field-related knowledge and competences into career advancement, projects for sustainable development goals, and social responsibility initiatives.	3
10)	Possess the habit to monitor domestic and foreign policy agenda as well as international developments.	5
11)	Possess competence to interpret the new political actors, theories and concepts in a global era.	5
12)	Evaluate the legal and ethical implications of advanced technologies on politics.	5

Öğrenme Etkinliği ve Öğretme Yöntemleri

Ölçme ve Değerlendirme Yöntemleri ve Kriterleri

Assessment & Grading

Semester Requirements	Number of Activities	Level of Contribution
Quizzes	2	% 20
Project	1	% 10
Midterms	1	% 30
Final	1	% 40
Total		% 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK		% 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK		% 40
Total		% 100

İş Yükü ve AKTS Kredisi Hesaplaması

Activities	Number of Activities	Workload
Course Hours	14	42
Study Hours Out of Class	14	102
Quizzes	2	1
Midterms	1	1.5
Final	1	1.5
Total Workload		148