The aim of this seminar is to provide students with a basis for understanding and analyzing strategy, defined by André Beaufre as “the art of the dialectic of wills employing force to resolve their conflict”. Since strategy consists in bringing together political goals of varying nature and scope, and military and non-military means that evolve over time, this course will take into account the diversity of strategies, as well as what unites them – uncertainty, complexity, or the clash of wills. Rather than recounting the history of strategic thinking or reflecting on the nature of warfare, the course will constantly move back and forth between the study of strategic theories and concepts, with particular emphasis on the great names, and their implementation in history up to the present day, through case studies.
Paul Zajac (associate expert at CIENS / director of strategic analysis CEA-DAM)
3 ECTS, 6 sessions of 2 h
Monday 4-6 pm in the Camille Marbo room at 29 rue d’Ulm