STV4225B – Strategy and Security Policy
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The aim of the course is to study how the military tool of statecraft is used today, its effects, constraints, and dynamics in the foreign policy of especially Western states. Moreover, the course concentrates on the role of strategic thinking (conditions, constraints, effects) and the employment of military force as a tool for Western states in three types of security policy: great power politics, asymmetric warfare, and coercive diplomacy.
The course will analyze the post-cold war period only, emphasizing the role of NATO and the UNSC. It will acquaint the student with conventional weapons (land, sea, and air power) as well as WMDs. Understanding and analyzing strategic thinking requires knowledge of the military tool as well as of the main political actors that deploy it.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
The student will:
- obtain knowledge of international, especially European, security policy
- be well acquainted with strategy studies of war
- become familiar with the national security and defence policies of the European great powers and modern warfare (technology and types of war)
- understand the requirements of strategy versus political "caveats" many European states impose
Skills
The student will:
- learn to analyze European international security policy from the vantagepoint of strategic requirements.
- become familiar with the security policy of major states and of NATO
- learn about the UN security council and the ad bellum rules of international law
- provide analytical skills at understanding the strategic dynamic of international politicism aspecially in the security and defence field
Competences
The student will:
- become conversant with a major field of European politics which is of great importance to Norway
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master`s Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Apply for guest student status if you are admitted to another Master`s programme.
For incoming students
All Master`s courses in Political Science must be registered manually by the Department, they will not appear in Studentweb. Contact your international coordinator at UiO.
Recommended previous knowledge
Bachelor`s degree in Political Science or similar.
Teaching
10 lectures.
Lectures are held during five weeks, with examination in the sixth week.
Compulsory activities:
- Attend first lecture
- Attend six of the following nine lectures
In the event of illness or other valid reasons, you can apply for a valid absence or postponement of compulsory activity.
Apply for valid absence from or need for postponement of compulsory activity
Examination
3-hour school exam and term paper.?
Language of the term paper must be in English.?
Examination support material
Usage of a dictionary during the examination is allowed, subject to prior inspection by SV-info.?See guidelines for further details.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
If you are sick or have another valid reason for not attending the regular exam, we offer a postponed exam later in the same semester.
See also our information about resitting an exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.