Course Description
An introduction to using strategic culture as an analytical approach to understanding the cultural, religious, historical, ideological, and leadership-related sources of state and non- state behavior, with special reference to issues related to national security and weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
Athena Title
Strat Culture Weap Mass Destr
Prerequisite
INTL 3200 or INTL 3200E or INTL 3300
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Several key strategic cultures will serve as case studies enabling students to examine a common international security phenomenon involving decisions by a state or a non-state actor to acquire, use, proliferate and prohibit weapons of mass destruction. As a result, students are expected to improve their skills in the practical application of strategic culture that would include: - Insight into the rationale and motives behind other countries' key policies and decision-making, including the role and the use of nuclear and other weapons; Better understanding of other countries' perceptions of U.S. policy initiatives in this area; - Enhancement of forecasting capability with regard to other countries' patterns of behavior in the framework of arms control and nonproliferation arrangements; - Analysis of the potential scope and limitations for cooperative relationships with allies and partners; Better understanding of the repercussions of U.S. security and foreign policy moves; - More successful strategies aimed at countering or weakening hostile propaganda campaigns.
Topical Outline
- Defining the boundaries of strategic culture as a concept distinct, among others, from political culture, popular culture and political psychology. - Relationships between assumptions underpinning the strategic culture concept and other major theoretical constructs. Conceptual framework and research methods used by experts in this field. - Applying strategic culture methodology to case studies involving security decisions with respect to weapons of mass destruction in: United States Russia France China India Iran North Korea Israel - Applying the strategic culture analytical framework to non- state actors. - Review of major arms control agreements through the prism of strategic culture of their states' parties. - Evolution of strategic culture and prospects of WMD elimination.