The lecture series, spread over two terms, covers strategic thinking and practice, especially in their military dimension, as well as theories of warfare from the ancient times to the present.
Learning objective
The participants are cognizant of how the meaning of strategy has changed and they know the main theoretical concepts of strategy and theories of war. They are - after a study of their application in selected historical and contemporary situations - conscious of the difficulties of translating strategic concepts into practice.
Content
The series covers key concepts of classical theory (e.g. Sun Tzu, Jomini, Clausewitz, Mahan, Liddell Hart, Beaufre etc.), against their historical background and their influence in history. It also deals with current doctrines especially of the US and their operational implementation, the strategies and (asymmetric) tactics of non-state actors and their suppression, i.e. irregular warfare. The theory of warfare is being treated by means of Thucydides, Machiavelli, Clausewitz or Galula.
Lecture notes
Slides, source texts and literature are being distributed ahead of the individual session.
A textbook with primary sources and a list of further reading are available online: Link
Literature
see "Skript"
Prerequisites / Notice
Active knowledge of German, French and English.
The test covers the contents of the lectures and the discussed parts of the textbook.
Performance assessment
Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course