Washington Summer Practicum
Courses
This summer we will offer two online evening seminars that meet Monday and Thursday evenings evenings from 6:00pm to 8:40pm. If the public health situation improves, courses will be offered in hybrid format. The featured courses for Summer 2021 are outlined
below, along with the internship course.
Propaganda and Disinformation | PAI 700 | TBA
Description coming soon!
21st Century Strategy | PAI 700 | Sean McFate
The art of war and grand strategy is often invoked yet
rarely understood, resulting in catastrophe. Too often policy makers, members
of congress, academics, think tankers, journalists, pundits and even flag
officers discuss strategy but remain ignorant of the concept. Consequently,
strategy is frequently confused with tactics, bureaucracy, academic theory and
other things — all to ruinous effect — as evidenced in Vietnam, Iraq and
Afghanistan. You will learn universal strategies for the strong, the weak and
most things in between. We will examine the ideas of Sun Tzu, Kautilya, Jomini,
Clausewitz, Mao, T.E. Lawrence, Galula and other scholar-practitioners. Case
studies include the Peloponnesian War, American Revolution, 2006 Lebanon War
and African warlords. The course will teach you how to think strategically and
builds on what senior U.S. military officers learn at war colleges, taught by a
professor at such an institution. However, we will probe much deeper than what
is usually taught at war colleges and civilian institutions so that you are
equipped to fight and win 21st century wars.
Washington Practicum | PAI 700 | Mark Jacobson
Students can earn up to three credits working as an intern for an agency or organization that focuses on public and international affairs.