History of Strategic
Thought (DIP 600)
Spring 2009
Monday 4pm-6:30pm
Dr. Robert M. Farley
Office: Patterson 467
Office Hours: Tuesday, 1-3pm
Office Telephone: 859-257-4668
E-mail: farls0@gmail.com
Introduction
In this course we will study several of the “great books” of
military strategy and doctrine. While
most of these works come from Europe, we will also read selections from
Format
This course will be conducted as a graduate seminar, with
minimal lectures. I expect everyone to
attend, have studied the readings, and have a familiarity with current
events. Any major reputable newspaper
will suffice for the latter, although I prefer the New York Times.
Grading
Grading
will be based on class participation (25%), and three 7-9 page analytical
papers (25% each).
Each of the three 7-9
page analytical papers must be typed and double-spaced. Please do not
exceed the page limit. Although specific topic is up to you, one paper
should have a regional focus, while the other should concentrate on a
particular nation-state. The papers need not hold to any particular
format (policy oriented memo, for example), but should be internally consistent
in focus. Additional research is welcome, and may be necessary for the
adequate presentation of some topics. One paper is due on the week of
your presentation (see below), one on the final day of the course, and one at
any time during the course other than those two dates.
You will be required to
make an oral presentation and defense of one analytical paper during
class. You must indicate to me a preference for which week to present by
the second week of the course, such that I can stagger presentations. The
presentation should last about fifteen minutes, and will be followed by a
fifteen minute question and answer period. The presentation will make up
50% of your participation grade, or 12.5% of the total grade.
The papers will be evaluated
on both content and presentation. Information must be accurate, arguments
must be well thought out, and style must be compelling.
Class Materials
Purchase of the following books is strongly
recommended. When possible, purchase the
specific editions noted.
T.E.
Lawrence, Revolt in the Desert
Alfred
Thayer Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History
1660-1783 (Also available here)
E.H.
Carr, The Twenty Years Crisis, 1919-1939
John
Kelsay, Arguing the Just War in Islam
Thucydides,
The Landmark Thucydides
Vo
Nguyen Giap, People’s War, People’s Army
Marc
Trachtenberg, History and Strategy
Peter
Paret and Gordon Craig, Makers of Modern Strategy
Andrew
Bacevich, The Limits of
Power: The End of American Exceptionalism
Hans
Delbruck, Medieval Warfare
Week 1 (1/26): Sun Tzu, The
Art of War (entire)
Week 2 (2/2): Thucydides,
The Landmark Thucydides (selections)
ix-xxv
1-220
577-605
Week 3 (2/9): Thucydides, The Landmark Thucydides
221-478
Week 4 (2/16): No Class
Week 5 (2/23): Hans Delbruck, Medieval Warfare (selections)
1-114
147-330
635-656
Felix Gilbert, Machiavelli: The
Renaissance of the Art of War
Week 6 (3/2): John Kelsay, Arguing the Just War in Islam (entire)
Week 7 (3/9): Carl von Clausewitz, On War (selections)
Books I-IV
Peter Paret,
Clausewitz
Week 8 (3/23): Alfred Thayer
Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History
1660-1783 (selections)
Chapters 1, 9-11, 14
Philip Crowl, Mahan: The Naval
Historian
Week 9 (3/30): TE Lawrence,
Revolt in the Desert (entire)
Douglas Porch, Bugeaud,
Gallieni, Lyautey: The
Development of French Colonial Warfare
Week 10 (4/6): E.H. Carr,
The Twenty Years Crisis (entire)
David MacIsaac,
From the Central Blue: The Air Power Theorists
Week 11 (4/13): Marc
Trachtenberg, History and Strategy (entire)
Week 12 (4/20): People’s War
People’s Army, Vo Nguyen Giap (entire)
John Shy and Thomas W. Collier,
Revolutionary War
Week 13 (4/27): Andrew Bacevich, The End of American Exceptionalism
(entire)