International Strategy and Security

Teacher(s)

Liegeois Michel; Walschot Maureen (compensates Liegeois Michel);

Language

French

Main themes

The themes presented in the course should highlight the widening of the problematic of Security, taking good care to keep our analysis in the field of political science. The traditional military issues therefore will not be forgotten and the great classics (Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, Liddel Hart,…) will receive the treatment that they deserve. Contemporary issues (nuclear questions, crises management, terrorism,…) will be evoked successively by linking them to the traditional theories and by underlining observed continuities and rup-tures.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	At the end of the course the student will have to know the significance of the concepts of strategy and security as well as their evolution through history. He will master the contemporary theories of security as well as the principal concepts, on which they depend. He will be able to implement them in a critical way within the frame-work of the analysis of current issues.

Content

The course addresses 4 main themes:

1. Introduction to international security: theoretical approaches and contemporary security issues (privatization of security, environmental and resource security, terrorism, transnational organized crime, cyber, artificial intelligence).
   
2. Strategy and war: classical theories (Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, Liddell Hart) and contemporary applications (asymmetric conflicts, hybrid wars, “gray zone” operations).
   
3. The nuclear question: deterrence, doctrines, proliferation.
   
4. Crisis management and operations other than war: coercive and cooperative diplomacy, peacekeeping, multilateral operations.
   

Teaching methods

Teaching takes place on site at Louvain-la-Neuve campus. Part of the learning is also held online via Moodle.
The course combines:

• Interactive lectures (introduction and theory).
  
• Flipped classroom: student presentations, simulations, case studies and debates.
  
• Guest lecture (diplomat, NGO, military, etc.).
  

Evaluation methods

Assessment is based on:

• Oral exam: covering all course material (including the guest lecture) and discussion of the written paper.
  
• Individual written paper: essay addressing course themes as well as the guest lecture.
  
• Group presentation: each group prepares and presents part of the material during flipped-classroom sessions. Assessment will consider clarity, mastery of content, the connection with course theories, and the ability to stimulate class discussion.
  

IMPORTANT:
Participation in both compulsory assessment components (oral exam, written paper, and group presentation) is required to validate the course.
Failure to complete either component will result in an absence grade for the entire course.
This rule is in line with Article 72 of the RGEE, which allows exclusion from the exam if the student has not regularly participated in the essential stages of the pedagogical process.
Any use of AI (research, writing, translation, editing) must be explicitly acknowledged through footnotes.
Extensive or systematic use resulting in work that is no longer essentially the student’s own will be considered plagiarism.

Other information

Course material is as follows:

• Oral presentation and powerpoints for on-site classes
• Available resources on Moodle
• Readings

Reminder: attendance is mandatory. The oral presentation is part of the course.

Online resources

All resources are either directly available on Moodle, or accessible via Moodle. 

Faculty or entity

> PSAD