The Art of War

3 Credits

For centuries, generals have searched for an “art of war” that could be used to defeat their enemy but what is an “art of war”? The art of war is closely tied to the term “strategy.” Strategy derives from the ancient Greek word strategos. Translated literally it means "the general's art." In general, it refers to military matters such as the overall conduct of a war. Likewise for centuries, military practitioners and theorists have written on strategy and the key figures who have shaped the theory and practice of war and statecraft. This multidisciplinary course provides global, comparative perspectives on strategic thought from antiquity to today, surveying both classical and current themes of strategy in search of an “art of war.” It includes historical case-studies from the Western canon so that students can develop their own concepts of strategy and the art of war.