STV1240 - International military operations
Course description
Course content
This course will introduce students to the challenges of contemporary security issues in peace and stabilization operations. Since the end of the Cold War, international terrorism and humanitarian concerns have changed the nature of military operations in ways that challenge the traditional theoretical thinking about security, including who the actors are, the purposes for using military force, and how best to deal with them.
The course will give an introduction to the alternative theories explaining why actors engage in international peace and stabilisation operations. The course will discuss international terrorism and insurgencies, and the protection of civilians, as two important drivers of contemporary military operations. Additionally, the course looks into different types of military operations – UN operations, counter-regime operations, counter-insurgencies, military assistance operations, and cyber operations – in order to highlight their key characteristics.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
Students will:
- learn about theories relevant both for analysing the reasons for operations and for why nations take part.
- learn about the key characteristics of different types of operations – UN operations, counter-regime operations, counter-insurgencies, military assistance operations, and cyber operations – in order to highlight their differences.
- obtain an understanding about the strengths and weaknesses of military and non-military instruments of power.
- be given an overview of how international military operations may change in the future.
Skills
Students will:
- enhance their capabilities to evaluate the legitimacy and efficiency relating the use of force and civil-military relations.
- be able to analyse and discuss dimensions and challenges related to different types of international military operations.
Competence
Students will:
- enhance their capabilities to analyse the challenges relating to the use of force in an international politics.
- acquire an understanding about the strengths and weaknesses of military and non-military instruments of power, and to spur their thinking about how these may be reconciled.
Admission
Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.
International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
No prerequisite knowledge beyond general Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with STV2240 - International military operations
Teaching
Lectures.
No mandatory activities. Attendence is recommended in order to achieve the learning goals.
Examination
4 hour written exam.
Examination support material
Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English. You may submit your response in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
- Explanation of grades - deadline and processing time
- Appeal about grades
- Complaint about formal exam errors
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
If you wish to withdraw from the exam you must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the deadline. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.
Special examination arrangements
If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.
Evaluation
Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, periodic evaluation of this course.
Plan for periodic evaluations at the Department of Political Science.