WAR AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT: THE ROLE OF DEFENSE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Paolo Ciocca, Marcello Cannizzaro
Obiettivi formativi
The aim of the course is to provide the student with theoretical and analytical tools to recognize new forms of conflict and understand their strategic, economic, and technological implications, with particular attention to the concept of sub-threshold conflict and the erosion of the boundary between peace and war.
Prerequisiti
Basic concepts of International Law, Public Law, and Theories of International Relations
Risultati di apprendimento attesi
At the end of the course of War and Crisis Management: the role of defense in International Relations, the expected learning outcomes will be the following: 1 1) Knowledge and understanding: the student will have acquired the necessary analytical tools and basic concepts to understand how to recognize a state of conflict and how a state can prepare itself in an increasingly complex, fluid, and opaque global scenario. The student will also have acquired critical knowledge about the role and relevance of state and non-state actors in the globalized world. 2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student will be able to gradually apply the knowledge in relation to forms of conventional and hybrid warfare through the practical activities foreseen during the on-campus lectures, such as participation in the working groups, classroom debates and expert guest speakers.
Contenuti Del Corso
The aim of the course is to provide the student with theoretical and analytical tools to recognize new forms of conflict and understand their strategic, economic, and technological implications, with particular attention to the concept of sub-threshold conflict and the erosion of the boundary between peace and war. In the current international context, the traditional military dimension remains central but is increasingly integrated into hybrid and full-spectrum strategies. Kinetic action is one component of a conflict that also unfolds through cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, economic coercion, institutional infiltration, and more. These methods allow state and non-state actors to operate in the absence of a formally declared war, producing profound effects on the stability and sovereignty of states.
Metodologie Didattiche
Traditional lectures, lectures by external experts and case studies
Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento
Attending students Multiple-choice TEST 1 (35%) Multiple-choice TEST 2 (35%) Final exam: multiple choice questions (30%) The intermediate exam will be conducted on the MyLuiss platform. Structure for Multiple-choice TEST 1 and 2 and for the Final exam: multiple-choice questions Non-attending students Final exam: 2 written essays + multiple choice questions (100%) Structure: 1 Written essay for Prof. Ciocca’s part + 1 Written essay for Prof. Cannizzaro’s part; multiple-choice questions Sufficiency in all tests is mandatory to pass and record the final grade. It is not possible to record the final grade with grades < 18
Settimana 1
08/09 Course Introduction Ciocca/Cannizzaro General presentation: hybrid part of the course (Ciocca, De Angelis, Savini). Guidelines on evaluation criteria (tests, teamwork, final exam). 09/09 National defense The basis Cannizzaro How it works: Air, Land and Naval
Settimana 2
15/09 Conflict in the Contemporary World: Basic Toolbox (1) Ciocca Essential definitions: unconventional element, political warfare, hybrid warfare. 16/09 The new dimension Cannizzaro Cyber, Space and Underwater
Settimana 3
22/09 Hybrid Threat – Part 1. De Angelis. Hybrid threats and warfare: Theory and Practice 23/09 Terrorism and Hybrid threats. Cannizzaro. The Global Security Risk of Non State-State Actors
Settimana 4
29/09 Conflict in the Contemporary World: Basic Toolbox (2) Ciocca. Essential definitions: Intelligence, Cyber, and Space. 30/09 Transnational Governance of Defence – Part 1. Distasio. Birth of Security organizations and institutions
Settimana 5
06/10 Hybrid Threat – Part 2. De Angelis. European security system vis-à-vis hybrid threats 07/10 Transnational Governance of Defence - Part 2. Cannizzaro/Zanetta. UN NATO and Coalitions of willing
Settimana 6
13/10 Midterm. Ciocca. Midterm (quiz) (35% of the final grade) 14/10 Case Study. Cannizzaro. Afghanistan
Settimana 7
20/10 Economic threat – Part 1. Savini. Introduction to economic statecraft 21/10. Case Study. Cannizzaro/Zanetta. Lebanon
Settimana 8
27/10 Economic threat – Part 2. Savini. Conventional means of economic statecraft: trade and financial sanctions 28/10 Case Study. Cannizzaro/Zanetta. Kosovo
Settimana 9
03/11 Economic threat – Part 3. Savini. Unconventional means of economic statecraft and economic warfare 4/11 Midterm + Case Study. Cannizzaro. Midterm (quiz) (35% of the final grade) / Yemen
Settimana 10
10/11 Financing capacity acquisition. Ciocca. Financing capacity acquisition: the role of the private sector 11/11 International Security. Distasio. International Cooperation and the military diplomacy
Settimana 11
17/11 Grand Strategy: US vs EU perspectives. Ciocca / Pertosa. Grand Strategic perspective from the US and the EU (institutions and member states) 18/11 EU. Cannizzaro/Zanetta. Missions and Operations
Settimana 12
24/11 Hybrid Threat – Part 3. De Angelis. In-class exercise 25/11 Case Study. Distasio. EUTM Somalia Week 13 1/12 Course recap. Ciocca. Final summary lesson: recognizing the current existence of conflict ‘below the threshold’. 2/12 Case Study. Cannizzaro. Rising Lion