INTRODUCTION
The “National Security – Strategic Studies” refers to everything a state does both in order to ensure its continued existence as a sovereign entity in a given territory and to defend its essential interests. Survival is the motivating force behind national security considerations and is a basic, objective value common to all nations. Therefore, by definition, the quest for national security requires no justification.
In contrast; essential national interests may differ significantly from one country or government, to another, as they depend, to a large extent, upon political culture, dominant ideology, tradition, physical conditions, national aspirations and other subjective factors. In addition, every basic interest is subject to periodic review by the society that upholds it, to examine if it is still one in the defence of which the leadership may rally the people and if the struggle to achieve it justifies recourse to arms.
National Security is a composite concept, the following being some of its salient aspects:
The population – its size, pattern of dispersal and birth and death rates
The territorial configuration of the state – size, climate, topography and borders
National assets – natural resources, infrastructure and industrial capability
The society – its cohesion, moral strength, morale, and degree of stability
The government – its character, legitimacy, style of leadership and formal pattern of rule
The economy – capital, financial returns, rate of growth and potential for development
International standing – power of deterrence, foreign relations (overt and covert) and military
and/or political treaties
The military force – its capability, state of readiness and relations with the political rank. A nation’s strength is measured in terms of its ability to mobilise the physical and human resources at its disposal. Strength is, of course, a central component of a nation’s security and dictates to what extent an attack can be withstood or effectively delivered. Whereas the ability to withstand attack depends on a country’s overall assets, the ability to give battle depends on military strength.
The balance between defensive and offensive capabilities derives, to a large extent, from the way in which national resources are divided. An unbalanced allocation of resources will be detrimental to a country’s overall strength. For example, a government that decides to enlarge the military budget at the expense of the education budget may well find itself with a strong military dependent on a weak or undeveloped society. Therefore, the most demanding task for national security policymakers is to determine the correct balance in allocation of the resources at their disposal.
When we speak of national defence, we refer to the military, an entity quite distinct from the system that upholds national security. The danger of confusing the two is very real, especially in countries that hold the military in disproportionately high esteem. Notwithstanding that systems charged with upholding national security exist in every modern state and the motivating force behind them is the basic wish to survive, definitions of the essence of national security vary.
It is universally the case, however, that national security considerations and interpretation of these interests deeply influence the life of a nation – the standard of living, the extent of civic freedom, the allocation of resources and the decision as to who will monopolise the management and legitimate perpetration of violence on the nation’s behalf.
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
A recent modification of the National Security Programmes was required to incorporate a broader approach of strategic studies into the curriculum. The purpose of this change is to provide our attendees with the professional, intellectual training and knowledge, achieving an advanced level in global strategic studies to positively respond to the current challenges within the international and national security sector.
The aim is to develop an innovative syllabus to accommodate selected senior officers for high-grade joint and single service appointments by developing their command, analytical and communications skills. We also seek to encourage a broad understanding and knowledge of combined operations, management of strategic studies and wider aspects of national security and defence.
This sophisticated Command and Staff seminar is internationally recognised as being equivalent in status to the course run at the National Defence Universities in North America and the European Command and Staff training courses.
The two-week Programme will include analysis of basic national security issues and potential international and regional conflicts. A key issue will be the application of resources in peace and war in order to strengthen national security. Israeli and Middle East regional security affairs will be considered within the context of global politics.
PROGRAMME PARTICIPANTS
The Programme is designed for high-ranking government officials, political decision makers and military, security and police officers
OBJECTIVES
The programme aims to deepen participants' understanding of current national security issues; to increase their capacity for in depth analysis, innovative planning and implementation of policy in response to national security problems and to improve their decision making skills.
COURSE METHODOLGY
Internationally known Israeli academic experts and national security experts will address the participants. Lectures will be supplemented by case study analysis, group discussions, group work, games and simulations. Study Tours will demonstrate solutions of real life national security challenges. A workshop on Political Conflict Analysis (PCA) will give the participants a unique and practical chance to improve their analysis abilities.
CURRICULUM
The following subjects will be addressed:
Part I - National Security Fundamentals & Strategic Planning
National Security and National Strength
National Security Strategy Formation
Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy in National Security
Defence Budgeting and Strategic Planning
High Technology and National Security
Bargaining and Decision Making in International Crises
Public Diplomacy in Grand Strategy
Part II: Elements Shaping Modern National Security
The Influence of the Media & Public Opinion on National Security
Intelligence and of National Security Decision Making
Major Alternative Arenas of National Security – Air, Sea and Space
International Security Regimes
Existential Threats and Civil Security Relations
The Impact of Global Terrorism on National Security Globalisation and Geo-Strategy
Influence of Energy, Ecology, Environment, and Demography on National Security
The Challenges of Globalisation and Transitional Countries
Part III - Conflicts and the International Systems
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD): Proliferation, Control, Counter-Proliferation and
Disarmament.
Laws of Armed Conflict- The Development of International and the Use of Force
Strategic Conditions of Conflict Resolution
Low-Intensity Conflict (LIC) Management - The Asymmetric Warfare
The Nature of Regional Conflict – How Does the International System Manage Regional
Wars?
Multiparty Negotiation and Decision-Making in International Conflicts Resolution
Transformation of Maritime Counter-Terrorism
Aviation Terrorism and its Influence on National Security
Military Cooperation with International Forces – International Security Cooperation
Global Fundamentalism - State Sponsored Terrorism: Terror by Proxies
Political Crisis Analysis (PCA) Workshop: Group Assignment and presentation
NOTE: The above curriculum outline is intended as a guide only. The sequence of programme offerings is subject to change at the discretion of the administration.
HOW TO APPLY?
Step by step instructions. Click Here
GENERAL INFORMATION
Programme of Study, Fees, Requirements, Click Here
Location and Certificate.
REGISTRATION
Registration for 2010 Scheduled Programmes Click Here
A link to the online registration form. Click Here
