F1IS 4545 - War Studies

After two decades focusing on counterinsurgency, war studies opened its spectrum to non-violent means of confliction feeding great power competition. But Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, in 2022, brought back conventional interstate war. The race to innovative defence capabilities based on new technologies is accelerating. It transforms the understanding of quickly-evolving conflicts, their actors, their tools, their scopes. In this context, non-violent means of conflicts blur the definition of war and the threshold of warfare.

This lecture pursues four objectives: 1. Exploring most advanced theoretical frameworks designed by scholars and practitioners to better understand what is war today. 2. Studying various case studies to illustrate and question these theoretical frameworks. 3. Sharpening analytical competencies related to the stakes, behaviours, means, and horizons of current conflicts. 4. Practicing strategy to acquire new skills for future leaders in international security, military, intelligence, diplomacy, reporting or strategy.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of war theories
• Knowledge of case studies related to modern war
• Knowledge of confliction mechanisms
• Mobilizing complex theories to apply to specific case studies
• Crossing various situations to identify common elements

Professional Skills

Theoretical knowledge acquisition in international relations and war studies

Decryption of news related to conflicts, their actors, their stakes and deep trends

Conflict analysis: research, compared case studies, evaluation, assessment, reporting, potentially policy recommendations

Practice of strategy using all domains of conflictions, including through alliances and multilateral negotiation. Capacity to self-evaluate and improve.

There are no mandatory prerequisites, the lecture being open to all students with a keen interest in conflicts. Pertinent prerequisite would be, however, skills in international relations, geopolitics, political geography, modern history and/or military affairs.

Permanent exchanges on content during the course to ensure optimal understanding

Availability before/after the course for specific questions related to content or students’ works

Possibility to exchange by email and if necessary at Sciences Po for Q&A

Assistance during the wargame

Midterms return on time with feedback with mark, comment and key personalized advice for the final exam

Final personalized comments on all commitments at the end of the semester.

Participation (analysis and questions, variable time, during class) 10%

Midterm (short research paper delivered at half the semester, variable time, homework): 25%

In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

Online learning activities: below.

Reading and Preparation for Class: below.

Research and Preparation for Group Work: below.

Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: below.