ECTS : 6
Volume horaire : 36
Description du contenu de l'enseignement :
This course is about applying military planning techniques to manage contemporary tensions. Students will be given the role of an advisor to military commanders from all geographies (Europe, America, Asia, Middle East). They will have to integrate the following parameters: economic forces and weaknesses, diseases, resource scarcity, climate change, supply chain tensions, cultural signals. Using data analysis and visuals, students will react to geopolitical risks by designing defence scenarios - strategic mapping, center of gravity math, threat vs opportunities ratios, battlefield options scoring.
This course is on Moodle.
1) The first four classes (4 x 3h) will explain our basic template for military crisis management.
2) Written exam on a contemporary security situation (3h).
3) External speakers will explain their own methodology and experience of war zones (3h).
4) Using the methodology and template that were provided, students will prepare oral military briefs based on six case studies (6 x 3h).
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1) INTRO - a) presenting each other, b) philosophy of the course (values, defining warfare in the 21st century, reading & military research tips, Paris research tips); c) detailing each oral brief cases.
2) METHODOLOGY (1) - explaining the course's planning standards. Steps: a) produce strategic visuals; b) create environment analytics (transport, topography, weather); c) create actor analytics (psychology, defence economics, logistics, society's weak signals). d) produce Center of Gravity (CoG) visuals.
3) METHODOLOGY (2) - a) produce strategic-level Courses of Actions (CoA) and choose one of them. b) full oral brief presented by the lecturer on the Roman Empire in the 3rd century CE as a standard example of what is expected; c) Students pick their own oral brief & group.
4) METHODOLOGY (3) - review by lecturer of the entire methodology through one specific case study based on one ongoing news event to prepare for the written exam. Resolving this ongoing geopolitical case is done with students' direct participation.
5) WRITTEN EXAM - with the support of forty pages of documentation, prepare an emergency military note to propose a solution to a crisis after having described three courses of action. Two specific visuals should be created alongside three-four pages of text leading to a preferred course of action.
6) EXTERNAL SPEAKERS - one French Army or NATO representative; and one climate/energy/logistics expert.
7) CASE 1 - advisor to the Russian president in 2021. The latter is asking you for three offensive options regarding Ukraine. Explain what these could be and choose one of them. Parameters involved: logistics, infantry masses, diplomacy.
8) CASE 2 - adviser to the Iranian president in 2026. Imagine that the current Mollah regime collapses. Present three geostrategic options to the new nationalist head of government in this moment of turmoil. Parameters involved: diplomacy, economic sanctions, military threats and opportunities.
9) CASE 3 - advisor to the French president in 2026. How could France improve its military and diplomatic layout from now to 2030? Present three scenarios based on specific data and maps. Parameters involved: public budgets, strategic culture, climate and logistics.
10) CASE 4 - advisor to the Indian president in 2026. Should India invest more or less in the Army, the Navy or in Air Forces in 2030? Present three options based on threat analysis. Parameters involved: public budgets, strategic culture, threa
Compétence à acquérir :
At the end of this course, students will know how to:
1) use military planning tools in order to anticipate geopolitical risks;
2) visualize their own thought process and counter analytical biases;
3) understand the deeper power dynamics at play in the 21st century.
Mode de contrôle des connaissances :
1/ 50% of the grade (/10) for the preparation of an oral brief (30 slides) based on the template explained in the first four classes and on 500-600 pages of documentation provided by the lecturer. This 30 minutes brief will be followed by 30 minutes of Q&A. Students will work in groups of three to five.
2/ 50% for the final & individual written exam (/10) where students will work on a new case study based on a recent conflict (and on 50 pages of documentation). They will be asked to prepare a three-four pages text accompanied by visuals laying out their military recommendations.
3/ Class participation generates bonus points.
The passing grade for the course is 10/20.
Class policy: unexcused absences from exams and/or military briefs will result in zero grades in the calculation of numerical averages.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to attend all classes, arrive on time, and stay for the entire session. Repeated absences or lateness may affect the final grade.
Class Participation
Active participation is encouraged, as it contributes to making classes more engaging and instructive. Students are expected to come prepared and contribute thoughtfully to discussions. When participation is part of the course assessment, it is evaluated based on the quality of contributions rather than their quantity.
Exam Policy
Students are not allowed to bring any materials into exams, except those explicitly authorized by the instructor. Unexcused absences from exams or failure to submit assigned cases will result in a grade of zero when calculating final averages. All exams must be submitted at the end of the examination period.
Communication and Grading
All questions or concerns regarding grading or course policies must follow the official procedures. No direct negotiation with instructors about grades or assessments is permitted.
Be aware of the rules in Université Paris Dauphine about plagiarism and cheating during exams. All work turned in for this course must be your own work, or that of your own group. Working as part of a group implies that you are an active participant and fully contributed to the output produced by that group.
Bibliographie, lectures recommandées :
Michael Benhamou - director of the consultancy OPEWI - Europe's War Institute. Reserve officer in the French Armed Forces: political adviser for French, NATO and European Union operations at land or at sea (Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean with aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle).