The Ways of Strategy

Module title	The Ways of Strategy
Module code	SECM018
Academic year	2021/2
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr David Blagden (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	4	3

Number students taking module (anticipated)	24

Module description

This module builds on The ‘Ends’ of Strategy module. In this module you will analyse the ‘Ways’ of strategy. You will analyse the diverse levers of power that strategists try to apply, including the traditional diplomatic, information, military and economic levers of state power, and how they are utilised in the real world. You will assess the relationship between the ‘ways’ of strategy and the impact upon the levers of power from International Law and International Institutions. On a domestic level it will assess how public policy and hence strategy is formulated within the construct of ‘security’ using the UK as a case study. You will assess the interplay between the public and private sector including aspects of Risk.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will equip you with knowledge and skills to further dissect the major elements that make up concepts and real world examples of strategic choice. This will provide you with an enhanced understanding of the levers of power and other ways that strategy can be formulated to achieving policy ends. This module will provide you with opportunities to develop your own capacity for strategic formulation, building on the analytical tools provided in Module 1.

You will also consider and be able to analyse key component elements of strategic calculation and behaviour, including those that are political, social, economic, cultural or psychological in origin. You will start to hone your ability to communicate orally and in written format the ends and ways of strategy to target audiences. Real world historical and contemporary crisis management studies and or deep dives of policy formulation will enrich your understanding and shed light on aspects of the ‘ways of strategy’ expanding on the traditional diplomatic, information, military and economic framework.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. draw on specialist knowledge of and critically evaluate the various components involved in the formulation of strategic calculation and behaviour;
2. analyse what factors impact upon the implementation of strategy and display your ability to identify, incorporate and/or mitigate;
3. identify and assess drivers / rationale for strategic decision making and strategic behaviour in the context of crises / security threats;
4. recognise, articulate and judge how actors plan and execute strategy in real world situations;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. explore the relationship between real world practices and debates in international relations, law and public policy;
6. relate the significance of multidisciplinary concerns and questions to the implementation of strategy;
7. analyse and evaluate advanced research monographs, articles and major policy texts relevant to the study of applied security strategy;

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

8. work effectively with peers and independently to achieve goals;
9. research (identify and critically evaluate) advanced research monographs and articles as well as major policy texts;
10. formulate your own arguments and communicate them logically and coherently in speech and in writing;

Syllabus plan

This module will be delivered through a number of lectures and seminars delivered by SSI/UoE staff and external guest speakers. Lectures and seminars will be delivered by practitioners as well as University of Exeter academics, depending on expertise and learning outcomes. Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

The traditional levers of power: diplomacy, information, military, economic
New levers of power: psychology, STRATCOM, technology
Models of National Security and Public Policy
Leadership / management and change
Relationship between public and private sector
Managing Risk
Concept of crisis

Crisis Case Studies (e.g. Cuba, Climate change, COVID)

Tools (e.g. DIPTEL, STRATCOM, OSINT / Horizon Scanning, Risk Register)

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
44	256	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	44	Lectures / Seminars
Guided Independent Study	36	Preparation for residential lectures
Guided Independent Study	12	Preparation for online seminars
Guided Independent Study	48	Preparation for formative assessment
Guided Independent Study	160	Preparation for summative assessment

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay Plan	750 words	1-10	Oral and Written feedback
Applied Essay Plan	750 words	1-10	Oral and Written feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	60	4000 words	1-10	Written
Applied Assessment	40	2000 words	1-10	Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay	4000 words	1-10	September deadline for submission
Applied Assessment	2000 words	1-10	September deadline for submission

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Armstrong, David, Theo Farrell & Bice Maiguashca. eds. 2005. Force and legitimacy in world politics, Cambridge: CUP.
Baylis J, Wirtz James J. and Gray Colin S., Strategy in the Contemporary World: An Introduction to Strategic Studies, (Cambridge UP, 2016)
Bolt, N., (2011) Strategic Communications in Crisis, The RUSI Journal,156:4, 44-53
Johnson, David E. (2011) What Are You Prepared to Do? NATO and the
Strategic Mismatch Between Ends, Ways, and Means in Afghanistan—and in the Future, Studies in
Conflict & Terrorism, 34:5, 383-401
Kittrie, O. F., Lawfare: law as a weapon of war (OUP, 2016)
Mintzberg, h., Ahlstrand, B., Lampel, J.B., (eds) Strategy Safari: The complete guide through the wilds of strategic management (FT Publishing International, 2008)
Murray, Williamson, Richard Hart Sinnreich, and James Lacey, eds. The Shaping of Grand Strategy: Policy, Diplomacy, and War. (CUP, 2011).
Popescu, I.C., (2018) Grand Strategy vs. Emergent Strategy in the conduct of foreign policy, Journal of Strategic Studies, 41:3, 438-460,
Strachan, H., (2019) Strategy in theory; strategy in practice, Journal of Strategic Studies, 42:2, 171-190,
Thomson, C.P., Blagden, D., A Very British National Security State: Formal and informal institutions in the design of UK security policy, The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, (2018), Vol. 20(3) 573–593

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Atlantic Council of the US: http://www.acus.org/

Chatham House: www.chathamhouse.org/

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: www.fco.gov.uk/

IISS: www.iiss.org

Ministry of Defence, UK: www.mod.uk

RUSI: www.rusi.org

Stabilisation Unit: www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk/

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module co-requisites	Diplomacy, information, intelligence, military, economics, risk, game theory and rational choice, resources, technology, law, international organisations, strategic practice, conflict and crisis management, policy and practice
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	15/12/2020
Last revision date	29/07/2021