POL4414 Strategic Studies and Military TechnologyBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs NEW MEDIAGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
NEW MEDIA
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
POL4414 Strategic Studies and Military Technology Spring 3 0 3 6
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

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.

Learning Outcomes

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.

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.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

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.

Evaluation System

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

ECTS / Workload Table

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

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To be able to critically interpret and discuss the theories, the concepts, the traditions, and the developments in the history of thought which are fundamental for the field of new media, journalism and communication.
2) To be able to attain written, oral and visual knowledge about technical equipment and software used in the process of news and the content production in new media, and to be able to acquire effective abilities to use them on a professional level.
3) To be able to get information about the institutional agents and generally about the sector operating in the field of new media, journalism and communication, and to be able to critically evaluate them.
4) To be able to comprehend the reactions of the readers, the listeners, the audiences and the users to the changing roles of media environments, and to be able to provide and circulate an original contents for them and to predict future trends.
5) To be able to apprehend the basic theories, the concepts and the thoughts related to neighbouring fields of new media and journalism in a critical manner.
6) To be able to grasp global and technological changes in the field of communication, and the relations due to with their effects on the local agents.
7) To be able to develop skills on gathering necessary data by using scientific methods, analyzing and circulating them in order to produce content.
8) To be able to develop acquired knowledge, skills and competence upon social aims by being legally and ethically responsible for a lifetime, and to be able to use them in order to provide social benefit.
9) To be able to operate collaborative projects with national/international colleagues in the field of new media, journalism and communication.
10) To be able to improve skills on creating works in various formats and which are qualified to be published on the prestigious national and international channels.