Due

%

Assignment

NO MORE THAN

Sep 16

15

Compare and contrast Porter’s and Christensen’s ideas about strategy and disruption.

1000 words

Oct 12

15

Where would you go to collect information about terrorists or transnational criminals? Select a specific terrorist or transnational criminal group. Describe how you would go about getting information about them. Provide examples of the information. Be explicit.

1000 words

Nov 4 & 9

15

Student presentations: provide an example of how the U.S. Intelligence Community’s  before during and after 9/11 created problems with the U.S. ability to wage war in Afghanistan

5 minutes

Dec 14

25

UNDERGRATES ONLY: Find an example of strategic disruption. Describe why it is strategic and why it is disruptive.

1500 words

Dec 14

25

GRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY: Paper analyzing current world issue demonstrating disruptive and strategic nature of the problem.

3000 words

All semester

15

Attendance: be there or have a doctor’s excuse

All semester

15

Participation: be prepared, participation in discussion, or ask questions

100

TOTAL PERCENTAGE

Date

Subject

Readings

Aug 24

Introduction

None

Aug 26

Strategic Surprise

In class video

Korea Behind the Bamboo Curtain. Secrets of War. The Documedia Group, 1998.

Aug 31

A model of strategy?

Porter, M.E. (1979) “How competitive forces shape strategy.” Harvard Business Review 57, no. 2 (March-April): 2-57. 

Sep 2

What is Disruption?

Christensen, The Innovator’s Dilemma, Introduction and Chapters 1 & 2 (v-xxxi and 1-63)

Sep 7

LABOR DAY

NO CLASS, NO READINGS

Sep 9

What is Disruption?

Christensen, The Innovator’s Dilemma, Chapters 3 through 6 (69-158)

Sep 14

What is Disruption?

Christensen, The Innovator’s Dilemma, Chapters 7 through 11 (165-261)

Sep 16

Globalized illicit behavior

Chapter 1, “Deviant Globalization.” Convergence: Illicit Networks and National Security in the Age of Globalization, pp. 3-12, ed. Michael Miklancic and Jacqueline Brewer. National Defense University: Washington, DC, 2013.

The link will download the entire book. Read ONLY Chapter 1 for this class.

Sep 21

Global networks

Chapter 4, “The Illicit Supply Chain.” Convergence: Illicit Networks and National Security in the Age of Globalization, pp. 63-74, ed. Michael Miklancic and Jacqueline Brewer. National Defense University: Washington, DC, 2013.

The link will download the entire book. Read ONLY Chapter 4 for this class.

Sep 23

Surprise

Erik J. Dahl, “Pearl Harbor: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom,” pp. 29-46

Sep 28

Surprising the enemy

Erik J. Dahl, “The Battle of Midway: Explaining Intelligence Success,” pp. 47-67

Sep 30

Surprise despite warning

Erik J. Dahl, “The East Africa Embassy Bombings: Disaster Despite Warning,” pp. 87-109

Oct 5

Surprise

Erik J. Dahl, “New York City: Preventing a Day of Terror,” pp. 110-127

Oct 7

Explaining surprise

Erik J. Dahl, “The 9/11 Attacks: A New Explanation,” pp. 128-159

Oct 12

Fail

Erik J. Dahl, “Testing the Argument: Why Do Terrorist Plots Fail?” pp. 160-174

Oct 14

Disfunction and failure

Matthew M. Aid, “Lipstick on a Pig: Warning Signs in Afghanistan,” pp. 10-38

Oct 19

Disfunction and failure

Matthew M. Aid, “Liberty Crossing,” pp. 39-69

Oct 21

Disfunction and failure

Matthew M. Aid, “The Sword of Damocles: The Continuing Travails of Afghanistan,” pp. 70-98

Oct 26

Disfunction and failure

Matthew M. Aid, “The Root of All Evil: The Pakistani Problem,” pp. 99-125

Oct 28

Disfunction and failure

Matthew M. Aid, “We Have to Kill Them All: Scenes from the Global War on Terrorism,” pp. 126-154

Nov 2

Disfunction and failure

Matthew M. Aid, “Men of Zeal: Homeland Security and Domestic Terrorism,” pp. 155-184

Nov 4

Student presentations

In class student presentations

Part of your participation grade is to show up for your classmates’ presentations. This is collegiality and professional courtesy

Nov 9

Student presentations

In class student presentations

Part of your participation grade is to show up for your classmates’ presentations. This is collegiality and professional courtesy

Nov 11

Activism

Episode 1, “Dreams of Sanctuary,” The New Heroes. PBS, 2005

Nov 16

Activism

Episode 2, “Technology of Freedom,” The New Heroes. PBS, 2005

Nov 18

Activism

Episode 3, “Power of Enterprise,” The New Heroes. PBS, 2005.

Nov 23

Week of Thanksgiving

No readings

Nov 25

Week of Thanksgiving

No readings

Nov 30

Activism

Episode 4, “Power of Knowledge,” The New Heroes. PBS, 2005.

Dec 2

Security as an afterthought

Craig Timberg, “Net of Insecurity: A Flaw in the Design.” Washington Post, 30 May 2015

Craig Timberg, “Net of Insecurity: The Long Life of a Quick ‘Fix’.” Washington Post, 31 May 2015 (this one has a video, it’s well done, particularly if you are allergic to technology)

Dec 7

Pearl Harbor

In class video

Cultures of War: Pearl Harbor/Hiroshima/911/Iraq, MIT 2008

Dec 9

LAST CLASS

Course Review

Dec 14-18

FINAL PAPER DUE Monday, Dec 14