Course Modules

HI6064 Dissertation

A dissertation (up to 20,000 words) written under supervision on an approved topic in strategic studies, international relations or history.

HI6065 The Making of Modern War and Strategy, 1450-1945

The module will introduce major ideas, theories and debates relating to the development of Western military strategy between 1450 and 1945. It will uncover and analyse major shifts in military strategy and the practice of war. It will focus on the interaction of society, technology, geography and politics in the development and implementation of Western military strategy. The role of war in the making of the modern state will be explored.

HI6066 Nuclear Strategy and Diplomacy

The module will examine key concepts, thinkers and changes in nuclear strategy during the Cold War and the post-Cold War including deterrence, bargaining, arms control, first/second nuclear ages, non-proliferation and crisis control. It will examine both historical and contemporary cases studies of small, medium and major nuclear powers and their nuclear diplomacy and strategy.

HI6067 Small States, Peacekeeping and Peace Support Operations

This module explores the origins of contemporary peacekeeping and peace support operations and the challenges these missions face in ending conflicts. It will focus both on the experiences of peacekeepers and the role that small states play in providing security in the international system. Through a variety of case studies, the module will explore issues such as the distinction between peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations, civil-military relations in peace support operations, and challenges that contemporary peacekeeping faces, such as the protection of civilians, prevention of gender-based violence and the role of peacekeepers in peace-building initiatives such as security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.

HI6068 Strategic Studies Summer School

This intensive one-week on-campus module will provide an opportunity for intensive investigation on special topics in Strategic Studies and will assist students in formulating appropriate questions and methodologies for their dissertations. Content varies from year to year to accommodate key trends and new critical theories and methods in Strategic Studies.

HI6069 Terrorism, Insurgency and Political Violence

This module explores various manifestations of non-state and intra-state violence. It will use historical case studies to examine a range of phenomena such as civil wars, insurgencies, non-state and state terrorism, as well as exploring state responses to these forms of violence. The module will assess the sources and characteristics of sub-state violence, and the problems the liberal states in particular face in responding to terrorism and insurgency.

HI6070 US Grand Strategy since 1940

The module will examine the formation of US grand strategy since 1940. It will combine the crucial factors contributing to the strategy such as national security and the use of military force, economic policy and its foundations, ideologies and soft power through to foreign policy and diplomacy. It will assess the various strategies of certain presidencies and examine how they combined and implemented these crucial elements. It will assess the relative success or otherwise of US grand strategy across this period.

HI6071 Introduction to Strategic Studies

The module will provide an introduction to the key concepts, theories and debates in strategic studies. It will examine the debate over the nature of war and its changing character by interpreting the ideas of some of the classic thinkers on strategy such as Clausewitz, Jomini, Corbett and Liddell Hart. The module will also assess the contemporary debate over the lost meaning of strategy and the extent to which 'strategy' has been superseded by 'security' as a lens for understanding contemporary conflict.