ECONOMICS | |||||
Bachelor | TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 | QF-EHEA: First Cycle | EQF-LLL: Level 6 |
Course Code | Course Name | Semester | Theoretical | Practical | Credit | ECTS |
POL4414 | Strategic Studies and Military Technology | Fall | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester. |
Language of instruction: | English |
Type of course: | Non-Departmental Elective |
Course Level: | Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle) |
Mode of Delivery: | Hybrid |
Course Coordinator : | Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU |
Recommended Optional Program Components: | None. |
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. |
The students who have succeeded in this course; The students who have succeeded in this course; 1. Grasp the nexus between security, strategy and technology; 2. Identify major strategists and their impact on modern strategic thought and practice; 3. Notice the historical continuity and change behind technological revolutions; 4. Evaluate the legal and ethical dimensions of contemporary warfare and related technologies; 5. Develop competencies with respect to active inquiry and critical thinking. |
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. |
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) |
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. ---- 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. ---- İşlenen konularla ilgili Youtube videoları. |
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 | % 50 | |
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK | % 50 | |
Total | % 100 |
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 |
No Effect | 1 Lowest | 2 Low | 3 Average | 4 High | 5 Highest |
Program Outcomes | Level of Contribution | |
1) | As a world citizen, she is aware of global economic, political, social and ecological developments and trends. | 2 |
2) | He/she is equipped to closely follow the technological progress required by global and local dynamics and to continue learning. | 2 |
3) | Absorbs basic economic principles and analysis methods and uses them to evaluate daily events. | 2 |
4) | Uses quantitative and statistical tools to identify economic problems, analyze them, and share their findings with relevant stakeholders. | 2 |
5) | Understands the decision-making stages of economic units under existing constraints and incentives, examines the interactions and possible future effects of these decisions. | 1 |
6) | Comprehends new ways of doing business using digital technologies. and new market structures. | 2 |
7) | Takes critical approach to economic and social problems and develops analytical solutions. | 1 |
8) | Has the necessary mathematical equipment to produce analytical solutions and use quantitative research methods. | 2 |
9) | In the works he/she contributes, observes individual and social welfare together and with an ethical perspective. | 2 |
10) | Deals with economic problems with an interdisciplinary approach and seeks solutions by making use of different disciplines. | 1 |
11) | Generates original and innovative ideas in the works she/he contributes as part of a team. | 2 |