War in the 20th Century

INTA 8803 TP FALL 2013

War in the 20th Century

INTA 4803TP Home Syllabus Bibliography Lessons Assignments

A study of armed conflict in the 20th Century with emphasis on the
impact of technology and geopolitics on society and military science.

Instructor: Tom Pilsch
Habersham 141
pilsch@gatech.edu

This course is co-taught with INTA 4803TP. Attendance at the joint lectures is expected.

Course Objectives

The successful student will gain the historical foundation and framework to support informed discussion and analysis of modern warfare, its causes, conduct, and consequences.

Specifically, the successful student will be able to:

• Identify and describe the historical roots, application and consequences of the strategies, operational concepts, and technology employed in 20th century wars.

• Describe the instruments of national power and be able to use them in qualitative comparisons of the ability of the major participants in 20th century wars to execute their grand strategy.

• Trace key technological threads in the history of warfare and appreciate their continuing significance in modern warfare.

• Describe the concept and implications of total war as it evolved during the 20th century.

• Analyze the logistic implications of modern wars.

• Understand the impact of modern war on society and society on modern war.

• Develop an historical appreciation for the moral, ethical and legal issues of armed conflict.

Themes and Threads

• The Circle of Modern War ^©:
Society < = > Technology < = > Military Science < = > Society

• Levels of War: Strategic, Operational, Tactical

• Instruments of National Power

• Geopolitics and its influence on Grand Strategy

• Match/Mismatch between national objectives and instruments of national power

• Logistics as the lynchpin of modern war

• Revolutions in Military Affairs

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