Presence Days: Oct. 28-31 (Frederiksberg Palace), Nov. 1-2 (Svanemøllen Barracks), Dec 15 (tbd)

Military Politics PhD Course

Registration: (https://event.sdu.dk/militarypolitics/signup)

Registration Deadline: October 1, 2021

Course Plan: pdf here

The University of South Denmark and the Royal Danish Defence College are collaboratively hosting a 7-ECTS course titled Military Politics in October-December, 2021. The course is intended for PhD students studying in International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, Media Studies and related fields. The course asks, how do and how should the senior military officers in democratic states engage in domestic political processes? These questions will students to challenge existing theories of civil-military relations and engage in a dynamic process of theory revision and co-construction.

The course is unique in its structure and will provide students an unusual opportunity to influence both international research and Danish policy. Students will attend four traditional study days (Oct 28-31). Next, on Nov 1-2, students will take an active role in a two-day international conference on this topic, co-hosted by the Royal Danish Defence College, the University of South Denmark and Princeton University, and featuring keynote speakers Prof. Risa Brooks (Marquette University), Ms. Rose Gottemoeller (former US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security and former Deputy Secretary General of NATO) and Gen. Philip Breedlove (Retired, formerly Supreme Allied Commander, Europe) and two dozen of the world’s leading experts on this topic. During the conference, students will track the discussion and develop several lessons learned documents summarizing the findings of the course and conference, which they will then have the chance to present to an audience of Danish experts on Dec 15.

Overview:

Thursday, October 28, Frederiksberg Palace (Copenhagen): full day of classes focused on civil-military relations theories and the new military politics paradigm

Friday, October 29, Frederiksberg Palace (Copenhagen): full day of classes focused on regulation, control, autonomy and new war dynamics

Saturday, October 30, Frederiksberg Palace (Copenhagen): part day, focused on Exit and Voice dynamics

Sunday, October 31, Frederiksberg Palace (Copenhagen): part day, focused on Loyalty and Neglect dynamics

Monday, November 1, Svanemøllen Barracks (Copenhagen): full day of New Perspectives on Military Politics conference

Tuesday, November 2, Svanemøllen Barracks (Copenhagen): full day of New Perspectives on Military Politics conference

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Wednesday, December 15, Location TBD (Copenhagen): part day of presentations on senior officer guidelines to Danish stakeholders

Guest Speakers:

Dr. Risa Brooks. Allis Chalmers Associate Professor of Political Science, Marquette University.

Gen. James (Jim) Campbell. Chair, Department of Joint Warfighting, U.S. Air Command and Staff College.

Dr. Amelie Theussen. Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Management, University of Southern Denmark.

Dr. M. Lena Trabucco. Post-Doctoral Fellow, Centre for Military Studies, University of Copenhagen.

Dr. Sharon Weiner. Associate Professor, School of International Service, American University.

Dr. Craig Whiteside. Associate Professor, U.S. Naval War College & RDDC Visiting Scholar.

Examination

Examination will be in the form of a presentation to Danish stakeholders and the teaching team.

Students will be free to develop their own topic on the theme of military politics, but must draw upon:

1) two or more course sessions

a. one from topic 1-4, and

b. one from topics 5-7, and

2) take into account arguments advanced in at least one conference presentation.

Duration: Presentation topics will be determined through discussion with the instructors.

Assessment: Pass / Fail

Censorship: Nil

Email militarypolitics@fak.dk with any questions about the course.