International Studies

The course introduces some of the theories and concepts that form the basics of strategic studies as a distinct subfield of international relations. The course is an introduction to the key ideas and themes of strategic studies, which deal with the preparation and use of military power to serve the ends of politics but also what are the means to avoid the use of force. The course is not directly interested in ethical and normative problems linked to the use of force. To adopt Robert Cox's terminology, the lecture is much more problem-solving than critical. That is why it does not really address notions like just wars, democratic peace, or gender and feminism. The course guides students through a wide-ranging survey of theoretical and practical aspects of strategic studies. It includes sections on the uses of strategic theory, instruments of war - land, sea, and air power, cyber - and their evolution, nuclear strategy, small wars and counter-insurgency, peace operations, victory, or defense planning. The course tries to strike a balance between theoretical works and empirical material to link the study of strategy with the realities of modern politics, and ultimately practice the skills that are critical to success in public service as well as the private sector—deep intellectual knowledge of the core issues of our time; analytical thinking and effective writing skills. Students are also expected to engage the readings fully and actively participate in seminar discussions and debates.

This course offers a dynamic and comprehensive introduction to the systems and politics of global health in low and middle-income countries. Students examine critical challenges, including pandemics, ageing populations, pharmaceutical innovation, and the climate crisis, alongside the key determinants of health and their consequences for development. Students explore policies designed to improve health and development, the barriers to their implementation, and practical strategies to overcome these obstacles. Topics include global health governance, universal health coverage, health system strengthening, and the politics of disease burdens. The course also considers the impacts of migration, conflict, and climate change on health.

This course is designed to introduce students to the wide range of opportunities and threats that have opened up with the advent of the information age. Students will come to understand holistically how cybersecurity connects to a wide range of issue areas in international relations (military, political, economic, etc.), and how the digitization of information leads to new vulnerabilities that traditional IR has never faced before. This will give students a head start when they inevitably have to deal with cyber-related issues throughout their careers.

This course examines the key concepts and schools of thought in the study of foreign policy. Concentrating on the process of decision making, internal and external factors which influence foreign policy, and the instruments available to foreign policy decision makers, the course provides students with an understanding of the role and effect that foreign policy has on international politics.

This course provides the fundamental knowledge for the understanding of France's foreign policy in the Middle East from 1995 to the present. It weaves a panorama of the policy deployed in the region from the presidency of Jacques Chirac and the renewal of the Arab policy of France to draw up the assessments and perspectives. This course provides the cardinal elements of understanding the elaboration and application of France's Middle Eastern strategy. French foreign policy is examined through the prism of a chronological triptych that corresponds to three inflections of the foreign policy implemented: a posture inscribed in the Gaullist tradition with President Jacques Chirac (1995-2007); followed by the "Westernist" posture leading to a progressive alignment with American and Israeli strategies during the presidencies of Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande (2007-2017); finally, a willingness to return to a Gaullist position attempted by President Emmanuel Macron (2017-2022). In view of the breadth of the theme and the area covered, the teaching involves many disciplines, such as history, geography, economics, and international law, with a clear predominance of international relations and foreign policy analysis.