BSS406 Strategic models and planning

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 9 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Roman Chytilek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.
Division of Security and Strategic Studies – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Timetable
Wed 10:00–11:40 U43
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course introduces approaches in the security studies that have the concepts of strategy and strategic decisions making at their very core. It discusses the epistemology of that approaches, especially in the dimension of possibility of predict rather than explain events. In that regard, special attention will be devoted to the differences between the academic research of strategy and use of the term in policy debates and practical politics. At the end if the course, the students should be able to: make reasoned assumptions about the predictive capability of varoius strategic studies approaches improve their ability to work with complex conceptual frameworks understand the differences between the academic research aimed at the prediction and practical policy settings.
Syllabus
  • Introductory lecture
  • Strategy and the possibility of prediction in securiry studies
  • Rational choice approach and its predictive capacity
  • Case study: POLICON
  • Interpretativists and possibility for prediction
  • Case study: Policy Paradox
  • presentation of projects
Literature
  • Strategy in the contemporary world : an introduction to strategic studies. Edited by John Baylis. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007, xxiii, 392. ISBN 9780199289783. info
  • MEYER, Christoph O. The quest for a European strategic culture : changing norms on security and defence in the European Union. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006, xii, 211. ISBN 1403992800. info
  • STONE, Deborah A. Policy paradox : the art of political decision making. Rev. ed. New York: Norton, 2002, xv, 428. ISBN 0393976254. info
  • Rational choice and security studies : Stephen Walt and his critics. Edited by Michael E. Brown. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2000, xix, 124. ISBN 0262522756. info
  • GRAY, Colin S. Modern strategy. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999, xii, 412 s. ISBN 0-19-828030-0. info
Teaching methods
The course combines lectures and class discussion. During the lectures, the conceptual frameworks are introduces that are later discussed in the class. The follow the project presentation in the second part of the course where students should demonstrate his ability to apply the conceptual frameworks on selected Czech policy situations.
Assessment methods
3 position papers (20 pts. max.) 1 seminar project (50 points. max.) The students who score at least 60 points for this two tasks are eligible to complete the course, grading "A". The remaining field is required to pass the final exam (30 pts. max.). It is necessary to achieve at least 60 points in order to complete the course with the grading: 89-83:B, 82-75:C, 74-67:D, 66-60E, less than 60 pts.:F.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2009, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2009/BSS406