SS-701 Advanced Research Methods in Strategic Studies

The purpose of this course is to equip the students with advance practices of research in Strategic Studies. This course would hone students skills to write a good research proposal based on a clear thesis statement, review the literature, theoretical framework, hypothesis and data collection to answer research questions. The course would enable MS scholars to apply qualitative and quantitative methods in their area of research. Various instruments of gathering qualitative/quantitative data in systematic, scientific and ethical ways will be discussed. In addition, the student will be guided on tools of data collection, data analysis and data interpretation.

SS-702 Evolution of Strategic Thought

This course would enable students to understand the evolution of strategic thought from the times of Thucydides, Sun Tzu, Koteliya all the way to the modern theorists of war and strategy like Clausewitz, Liddel Hart, Bernard Bordie, Andre Beaufre and Colin S. Gray. Students would learn about profound technological changes in the military technology, communication systems and social media that have affected evolution of strategic thought. The transformation of war, competition and cooperation would also be examined to enable the students to appreciate and explore the evolving strategic thought.

SS-703 Theory & Dimensions of Contemporary Strategy

This course would enable students to understand the evolution of strategic theory and practice in relation to contemporary connotations. Students would learn the revolution in the strategic affairs brought about by profound changes in society, technology and military affairs. Application of direct and indirect modes of strategy and its dimensions of land, air, sea, space and cyberspace strategies would be explored and appreciated by the students. The focus of this course on learning about the dynamics of strategic theory and its practice in contemporary times.

SS-704 Seminar on Global Strategic Issues

The principal purpose of this course is to examine and analyze the contemporary global issues. An interactive approach involving interplay of international, systemic and natural phenomenon would be used to understand the dynamics of strategic issues facing the world and Pakistan. This would equip the students with necessary knowledge to secure and safeguard Pakistan’s national interests with regards to the strategic issues, and also help the students to choose their respective area of research.

SS-705 Seminar on Strategic Policies of Great Powers

The principal purpose of this course is to examine patterns of change and continuity in the policy behavior of the great powers of United States, Russia, China, Japan, EU and BRICS. An interactive approach involving interplay of domestic context, regional factors and systemic forces will be used to understand the dynamics of great powers strategic behavior. Students would learn about the nature of great powers and their strategic pursuits. They would appreciate that structure and nature of international system is determined by the concentration of power in states called the great powers; whose strategic policies need to be studied and analyzed. This would equip the students with necessary knowledge to secure and safeguard interests of Pakistan in the prevailing international order.

SS-706 Evolution & Development of Nuclear Strategy

The students would understand the development of nuclear capability, doctrine and strategy during the period of continuing political struggle between the United States and the former USSR. The concept of nuclear deterrence has become crucial in creating the impression that a nuclear adversary state would have little or no chance of victory in nuclear war against another nuclear armed state. The students would understand the doctrines of massive retaliation; flexible response; surprise attack and 'Second Strike' capability along with the concept of mutually assured destruction. Salient characteristics of nuclear strategy in the Second Nuclear Age would also be discussed in this course.

SS-707 National Security Policy and Strategy

This course examines national security policy and strategy as developed and pursued by governments and the civilian sector. The students would understand security policy development process and monitoring, evaluation and implementation role of the government departments, institutions and agencies. , concept of national interests and process of strategy formulation. The students would also be exposed to the concepts of traditional and non-traditional aspects of national security; and to the concept of securitization national security issues. The capacity of a nation for disaster resilience, crisis response and mitigation of pandemic threats to national security would also be examined in this course.

SS-708 Dynamics of Strategic Stability in South Asia

South Asia has three nuclear-armed powers, each with its own strategic objectives and nuclear philosophies, making definition and practice of deterrence a tall order. In this backdrop, the students would be exposed to the significant transformation in the strategic doctrines and force postures of the three principal states of South Asia. The students would explore the future scenarios of deterrence and strategic stability in South Asia and their linkage with global strategic balance.

SS 709: A Study of Contemporary War

This course is designed to equip the students with the capability to understand the contemporary forms, concepts, technologies and strategies of war. The students would be made conversant with the on-going and emerging nature of war and conflict in 21st century. The students would appreciate that the nature of war has been transformed in the contemporary times. Apart from the states, many violent non-state actors, MNCs, international non-governmental organizations and ideologues pursue their political agendas through new types of war and conflicts. The multiplicity of political actors, advancement in technologies (including nuclear technology) and the phenomenon of globalization have had profound impact on the approaches adopted by states and non-state actors to achieve their political objectives and to seek security. Revolutions in military and strategic affairs have also brought about different concepts in the conduct of war. This course discusses these factors in shaping the irregular and formless nature of contemporary war.

SS-710 Air & Space Power Employment in 21st Century

The students would develop recognition of value of air and space assets for handling contingencies from disaster relief to war and increasing demand for such assets. They would understand that such developments have created both challenges and opportunities for the Air and Space Forces in supporting nation's interests in a challenging technological and security environment. The students would be enabled to examine the changing roles of air and space forces in national security strategy; implications of new systems and technologies for military operations, and the role of space in security strategy.

SS-711 Security and Conflict Analysis

Students would learn the concept of security and conflict. They would be able to analyze conflict by recognizing its causes, context, actors, interests, incompatibilities, resources and motivations inherent in the conflict. The purpose of security and conflict analysis is to assist the students in understanding the structure of conflict and contemplate strategies to manage, resolve or transform the same.

SS-712 Conflict and Cooperation in Global Commons

In this course students would learn the concept, definition and types of global commons: the high oceans, the atmosphere, outer space and the Antarctic. They would understand importance of the global commons for security and development of nations. Study of international regimes governing the commons, and politics of access and exploitation would be a special area of interest. The students would understand how Pakistan should endeavour to optimally use the global commons for economy and security.

SS-713 Conflict and Cooperation in South Asia

The students would learn the geopolitical dynamics of South Asian region; its resources, political landscape and environment. The interstate security cooperation, competition, economic integration and patterns of regional cooperation would be explored by the students. The interests of global powers in the region and its linkage with the dominant state structure would also be examined by the students.

SS-714 Conflict and Cooperation in West Asia

The students would learn the geopolitical dynamics of West Asian region; its resources, political landscape and environment. The interstate security cooperation, competition, economic integration and patterns of regional cooperation would be explored by the students. The interests of global powers in the region and its linkage with the dominant state structure would also be examined by the students.

SS-715 Conflict and Cooperation in Asia-Pacific

The students would learn the geopolitical dynamics of South Asian region; its resources, political landscape and environment. The interstate security cooperation, competition, economic integration and patterns of regional cooperation would be explored by the students. The interests of global powers in the region and its linkage with the dominant state structure would also be examined by the students.

SS-716 Conflict and Cooperation in Central Asia

The students would learn the geopolitical dynamics of Central Asian region; its resources, political landscape and environment. The interstate security cooperation, competition, economic integration and patterns of regional cooperation would be explored by the students. The interests of global powers in the region and its linkage with the dominant state structure would also be examined by the students.

SS-717 Civil-Military Relations: Theory and Practice

The students would be introduced to assumptions of military sociology theory. They would learn the peculiar characteristics of military profession and its relationship with civil society. Various models of civil-military relations would be examined in case-study format. The students would be encouraged to form their own views on the concept and practice of civil-military relations.

SS-718 Dynamics of Conflict Resolution

In order to resolve conflict effectively, it is imperative to have a full understanding of conflict dynamics. In this course, the students would be exposed to drawing lessons from a variety of disciplines, including psychology, sociology and communication to get a wholesome view of the nature and dynamics of conflict and conflict resolution. With a robust understanding of nature of conflict, students would be equipped to attempt to resolve intra-society or international conflict.

SS-721 Security, Leadership and Society

It provides innovative approach to the interdisciplinary study of leadership regarding peace and security. The security challenges in the 21st century needs comprehensive understanding of the nature of threat emanating from state as well as non-state actors, from within the society, and the role of leadership in dealing different challenges through graded approach. the students shall be able to Understand the role of society in defining factors behind securitization and desecuritization of a state, and the role of leadership; Identify various security constructs that are created within the society, influenced by historical experiences, or artificially created by various interests groups; and role of leadership that could change the security constructs, both positive and negative.

SS-722 Environment, Politics and Globalization

The students will learn about global environmental changes caused by globalization, and politics guiding national choices of major powers and the emerging industrial states. Reluctance by major industrial states to acknowledge the harmful impact of environment degradation and its impact on global climate change has emerged as a major security challenge that could only be dealt through combined efforts of all countries.

SS-723 WMD Proliferation and Nuclear Security

This course is designed to help students to understand proliferation dynamics, theoretical and practical aspects of global nonproliferation regime, and its implications for international security. The students would understand the evolution and development of global nonproliferation regime, shaped by several variables, and its likely future. They would understand the political and technical drivers that led to global nuclear proliferation and the efforts towards nonproliferation; familiarize themselves with states’ motivations to acquire nuclear weapons; learn technical aspects of major arms control arrangements; understand current efforts towards nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear security.

SS-724 Geopolitics, Territory and Security

It is a unique multidisciplinary course that focuses on the territorial aspect of inter-state relations. Students will be able to explore geopolitical and political geographic analysis – contextualized within the wider social sciences – and the relevant aspects of international law to understand the creation and maintenance of international boundaries. After completing this course, the students shall be able to understand emerging trends of geopolitics shaped by different factors; and identify different patterns of enmity and amity shaped by convergence and divergence of interests, and also by geostrategic locations of major actors.

SS-725 Politics and Economics of Energy

The control of natural resources has been one of the major determinants of global conflicts, and has shaped political priorities of major powers. The students in this course will be taught the economics of energy that continue to shape interests of major powers.

SS-726 Politics of Space and Cyber Security

Space is emerging as the new frontier of global competition. Major powers are exploiting space for their commercial as well as military needs, while denying the benefits to the developing countries. The students shall be taught ongoing efforts by some of the states to militarize the space, and their reluctance to negotiate global treaty or arrangement to prevent monopoly of the few. Likewise cyber domain has emerged as the new challenge. Both state as well as non-state actors are using cyber warfare as an effective tool to launch offensive without attribution. Cyber security has emerged as a necessity for state entities as well as multinational companies, especially the IT sector. The students will get a better understanding about this new form of warfare and the need to take collective measures to deal with this new threat.

SS-727 International Law

Objectives of this course are to generate awareness among the students regarding the nature, evolution, development and application of International Law, upon the members of international community such as states, international institutions and individuals. This course also addresses the issue of practicability of International Law.

SS-728 Diplomacy

Diplomacy is an important means by which sates execute policies. It is largely designed to enable states to secure the objective of their foreign policies by interacting with the other states preferably without a resort to force in war. The main purpose of this course is to acquaint the students not only about the linkage between foreign policy and diplomacy of a country but also to teach them about the means and methods of achieving the aims and objectives of foreign policy through various kinds of diplomacy. In addition, important matters related to diplomacy will be covered in the course in its theoretical and applied dimensions.

SS-729 Economics of Defence and Conflict

The student would explore relationship between conflict and defence from an economic perspective. They would be introduced to economics of conflict and peace, and explore relationship between defence spending and conflict and questions about the impact of rising weapons costs and costs of conflict. The students would be guided on issues of conflict economics, and of defence input and outputs.

SS-799 MS Thesis

Students have to opt for thesis after successfully completing one year of Couse Work comprising of 24 credit hours. Students can select a topic of his/her choice and write a valid thesis.