MVZb1006 Security in the Nuclear Age

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 14:00–15:40 Aula
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! MVZ106 Security in the Nuclear Age && !NOW( MVZ106 Security in the Nuclear Age )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The goal of the course MVZ106 Security in the Nuclear Age is to acquaint students with the evolution of security policy in the second half of the 20th century, especially with the regard to the era of the Cold War and its end. During the course, students will devote their attention to the evaluation of the transformation of international security environment in the post-Cold War era and of the most serious security threats and issues of the Second nuclear age (e.g. proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missile technologies, a role of nuclear weapons, rogue states). At the end of this course, students should be able to analyse the development of the international security environment in the Cold War; to show basic knowledge of the post-Cold War security architecture and to demonstrate their ability to use historical documents and primary sources.
Learning outcomes
Students will orient themselves in the evolution of the international system during and after the Cold War. They will be able to explain and characterize motives of states for proliferation of nuclear weapons or other sorts of WMD; they will understand basics of nuclear deterrence as practiced by various nuclear states since 1945; they will orient in evolution of nuclear arms races; evolution of arms control and disarmament; they will know and understand principles and aims of the most important arms control treaties dealing with limits, reductions, non-proliferation, testing or deployments of nuclear weapons or other types of WMD.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Basic concepts and terminology
  • 3. Security issues in the 1940s
  • 4. Massive Retaliation, American military superiority and a Soviet response
  • 5. From the second era of American superiority toward strategic parity
  • 6. New members of the nuclear club I (United Kingdom, France)
  • 7. New members of the nuclear club II (China and nuclear proliferation in Asia)
  • 8. Evolution of security issues in the 1970s
  • 9. Soviet ballistic missile defense systems
  • 10. American ballistic missile defense systems
  • 11. Evolution of security issues in the 1980s
  • 12. Development of global security environment in the post-Cold War era I
  • 13. Development of global security environment in the post-Cold War era II
Literature
  • GOLDSTEIN, Avery. Deterrence and security in the 21st century : China, Britain, France, and the enduring legacy of the nuclear revolution. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2000, 356 s. ISBN 0804746869. info
  • KUCHYŇKOVÁ, Petra and Petr SUCHÝ. Vývoj a výsledky procesů kontroly zbrojení a odzbrojování. Marnost nad marnost? (Evolution and Results of Arms Control and Disarmament.). 1st ed. Brno: IIPS, 2005, 235 pp. Studie. ISBN 80-210-3881-0. info
  • SUCHÝ, Petr. Americká protiraketová obrana a ruský pocit nejistoty (The U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense and Russian Insecurity). Obrana a strategie. Univerzita obrany, Brno: Ústav strategických studií, 2007, vol. 7, No 1, p. 29-44. ISSN 1214-6463. URL info
  • SUCHÝ, Petr. Reagan a říše zla. Vývoj americké zahraniční politiky a vztahů mezi supervelmocemi v letech 1981 - 1989. (Reagan and the Evil Empire. The Evolution of U. S. Foreign Policy and Superpower Relations between 1981 - 1989.). 1st ed. Brno: CDK, 2004, 283 pp. Politologická řada, svazek 16. ISBN 80-7325-046-2. info
  • Voas, J.: Soviet Attitudes towards Ballistic Missile Defence and the ABM Treaty. IISS 1990
  • NSC-68 (kap. 5, 6, 7, 8) (http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/nsc-hst/nsc-68.htm)
Teaching methods
Lectures involve theoretical background of particular topics. Seminar papers aim to improve the ability of students to analyze issues of security in the nuclear age as well as the ability to use historical documents and primary sources and to work with them properly. Regular testing almost every week helps students to prepare properly for each class, to solve potential questions where they need more detail explanations, as well as maximize their chances of successful passing of the course.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded with a written exam. Overall assessment on which the final grade is based is composed of points gained for in the final written examination (40 points), eight on-line tests, seminar paper (10 points), and in class activity.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
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