List of Courses

Information
Description
Outcomes
Contents
Methodologies
Assessment
Books

National Security Strategies

Course Code :
PSC 412
Level :
Undergraduate
Course Hours :
3.00 Hours
Department :
Department of Political Science

Instructor information :

Area of Study :

Shaping the National Security Strategy of a state requires the integration of a number of inputs that include history, ideology, geography, resources, interests, military power, socio-political cohesion, political stability, economic power, perceived threats, nature of society and others. This course is designed to explain the relation between political decision-making with the national security strategy through examining the impact of the different inputs. By the end of the course, students simulate different Arab countries and their enemies/main allies to try to come up with a sound national security strategy for each Arab country and for the Arab world at large. Course Goals: • Comprehend the differences/similarities between national interests and national security. • Understand the difference between a national security strategy and a national security policy. • Assess the impact of the nature of the ruling regime on the making of the NSS.

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

National Security Strategies

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

National Security Strategies

Course outcomes:

a. Knowledge and Understanding:

1-	Understand the making of a national security strategy.
2-	Recognize the differences between the NSS in developing and developed states.

b. Intellectual Skills:

1-	Compare the strength/weakness of a country in the international system with its NSS.
2-	Relate the perceived power of a state with its decision on where to place the bar on what constitutes a NS threat.

c. Professional and Practical Skills:

1-	Design a NSS for selected countries through role playing workshop.
2-	Develop and implement a research paper that applies the class content in a proper academic manner.

d. General and Transferable Skills:

1-	Develop self-learning skills.
2-	Select and use credible sources of information.
3-	Practice working in a group.
4-	Practice role-playing and simulations.

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

National Security Strategies

Course topics and contents:

Topic	No. of hours	Lecture
Introduction and Syllabus	3	1
Definition of Strategy vs. Policy	3	1
National Security: Overview and Historical Development	3	1
National Interests vs. National Security	3	1
Institutions Involved in Shaping NSS	3	1
Factors and Inputs Involved in Formulating NSS	3	1
Developed vs. Developing States’ NSS Making	3	1
Midterm Exam		1
Perceived Power of a State and Enemy Identification	3	1
Dictatorships and NSS Making	3	1
US Vs. Al-Qaeda: Impact of Magnitude of Threat on NSS Failure/Success	3	1
Questioning the Existence of NSS in the Arab World	3	1
Formulating Successful NSS in the Arab World	3	1
Role-Playing Workshop Session	3	1
Final Exam		1

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

National Security Strategies

Teaching And Learning Methodologies:

Teaching and learning methods
Demonstration videos
Presentation
Simulations
Group discussion
Research Paper

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

National Security Strategies

Course Assessment :

Methods of assessment	Relative weight %	Week No.	Assess What
Course Work (Attendance, Participation, Assignments, Quizzes, Research Paper…)	30.00		To assess understanding, and to assess theoretical background of the intellectual and practical skills.
Final Exam	40.00	15	To assess knowledge and intellectual skills.
Midterm Exam(s)	30.00	8	To assess professional skills.

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

National Security Strategies

Books:

Book	Author	Publisher

Recommended books :

Alan G Stolberg, How Nation-States Craft National Security Strategy Documents, US Army War College: Strategic Studies Institute, 2012. http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubid=1128 Alix Julia Boucher, National Security Policies and Strategies: A Note on Current Practice, Stimson Center, 2009. http://www.stimson.org/images/uploads/research-pdfs/Stimson_National_Security_Strategy_Note_FINAL_12dec09_1.pdf Susanna Bearne (et. al.), National Security Decision-Making Structures and Security Sector Reform, RAND Europe, 2005. http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/technical_reports/2005/RAND_TR289.pdf

Periodicals :

David Chuter, From Threats to Tasks: Making and Implementing National Security Policy, Journal of Security Sector Management, 5, 2, 2007 (1-19). http://www.davidchuter.com/Texts/jofssm_0502_chuter.pdf