IS 454 - Strategy and Power

Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
Credit Hours: 3

This course examines the theory and practice of military strategy, the use of military force to achieve political ends. Initial attention is given to the canon of ancient and modern writers who made significant contributions to strategic thought. Consideration then turns to the social scientific explanations of military effectiveness. Among the factors considered are force employment, regime type, civil-military relations, and military culture. The final component of this course considers various explanations of strategic success and failure. Orienting this investigation is the (sometimes shifting) political motivation for the use of military force.