POL 124 - Defense Policy

Upper Division

The course examines U.S. national security policy objectives, the military strategies and institutions that have been designed to achieve these objectives and the defense capabilities that can be used to accomplish political and economic goals. The focus of readings and class discussion is on the following topics: the international environment as the setting for the making of American defense policy; the evolution of U.S. strategy; World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam as case studies; arms control; the institutional structure and processes of defense policy; military professionalism; reform and appraisal.

Course credits: 1