Course Syllabus

Shadow Wars: Fake News and Hybrid Warfare

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Semester & Location:

Spring 2020 - DIS Copenhagen

Type & Credits:

Elective Course - 3 credits

Major Disciplines:

Political science, History, Sociology  

Faculty Members:

Martin Clemann Rasmussen - martin.rasmussen@dis.dk 

Program Director:

Neringa B. Vendelbo  - nb@dis.dk

Program Assistant Julia Magnuson - jma@dis.dk
Time & Place:

Monday and Thursday 13.15-14.35.Classroom V10-A32

 

Description of Course

The end of the Cold War and the triumph of Western Democracy was initially heralded by many as the beginning of a new era that would be marked by peace and mutual trust. Today the security challenges facing Europe indicates a much more pessimistic view . Economic and political transformation and progress in Europe has been slow, expensive and painfull and since the Towers fell in New York on the 9/11 Europe has been divided on the War on Terror and facing internal as well as external threats from an enemy operating from the shadows and among her own population.

The resurgence of Russia under Vladimir Putins leadership is also bringing new challenges for Europe and the shadows have deepened even further as the future of NATO and US-EU relations are now repeatedly questioned by the Trump-administration and Brexit threatens the very core of the EU itself. Though not directly at war Europe is hardly at peace either. War and conflict, attack and defence and the battle of ideas are now taking place in the shadows.  

Drawing on methods and simulation games used by both the military and by civilian institutions, we will examine the security challenges facing the Europe of today. 

Through a number of case studies from Russia and other European countries, we focus on how and why the shadow wars are being fought and what role fake news and hybrid warfare play in these wars. From the battlefields of Ukraine to the polished floors of Brussels, from the crack-down on free press in Russia to the rise of right-wing nationalism in Europe, we will discuss, simulation game and analyze our way into the dilemmas and consequences of why the dictatorship of tomorrow to many seems more desirable than the democracy of today.

Learning objectives of the course

The objectives of this course are to provide students with a broad-ranging knowledge of the security issues facing todays Europe. Furthermore, the course will give the students a solid knowledge about Russia and Russian politics in relation to European and US security issues today. 

Through the use of manual simulations, this course will also provide the students with a number of tools to sharpen their analytical skills and their understandings of the dilemmas facing the modern political and military decision maker. 

The course is relevant for all with a strong focus on history, international relations, political science, security policy, gaming and communications. You will develop your skills in analysis, in the use and design of simulation games as an analyzing tool. Also expect this course to sometimes adapt to address contemporary issues within the world of Hybrid Warfare and take shape according to unfolding events.    

Faculty

Martin Cleemann Rasmussen

MA (Russian and History, University of Copenhagen 2004, graduated on Civil-Military relations in Russia, 1993-99). Associate professor at the Royal Danish Officer Academy (2011- ) and Danish Defence College (2018-), Senior Advisor NordGEN at the Nordic Council of Ministers 2005-2009 on Russia and the CIS, Exchange Student, Odessa (Ukraine), and St. Petersburg(1996-1997),Associate Professor Nordic Council of Ministers Petrazavodsk State University 1998. Various positions as translator and as leader on many visits to Russia by Danish and foreign students and tourist groups as well as on several battlefield tours. Lectures to the general public as well as an analyst on Russian matters in Danish news media. With DIS since 2015. Also DIS-classes on Espionage during the Cold War, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism, Danish Politics and EU-US relations.

Main readings

There is no textbook for this course and most readings can be found exclusively on Canvas

Freedman, L.:" The Future of War - a History". 2017. (Ch. 1,2,12,13, 20 and 21).

Pomerantsev, P.:"Nothing is true and everything is possible". 2015 (pp.41-59, 268-282.)

Tsygankov, A.:"The Strong State in Russia".2014. (Ch.10-15).

 

Field Studies

4th of March, 09.00-12.00: "The Troll Factory" - A workshop approach  (TBC).  

1st of April, 13.00-16.30: Shadow wars on film and in a Museum - Visit to the Danish War Museum 

Guest Lecturers

"Fake news and Propaganda - the EU perspective." Jon Kyst (EEAS)  (TBC)

"The Political aspects of the Electoral process in Wider Europe." Inge Christensen, external expert , Peace and stabilization Response, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark  

Approach to Teaching

This course will be a combination of lectures and a discussion-based course using case studies, manual simulations as well as group-work. Also expect this course to sometimes adapt to address contemporary issues within the world of Hybrid Warfare and take shape according to unfolding events.    

Expectations of the students: 

Participation

As the course is a discussion-based course, case studies and manual simulation a high degree of student participation, preparation and engagement is required. Throughout the course, you will also have to develop and practice your own critical thinking by analyzing texts, concepts as well as specific cases to understand the complexity of the field of security and conflict in Europe today. The participation constitutes 25% of the overall grade of this class.

Mid-term exam

As part of the grading this class will include a mid-term exam, where the students will be tested on topics taught in the first part of the semester. The midterm test will be taken using the canvas system and constitutes 25% of the overall grade.

Thematic Workshop

As part of this class, the students will work with a thematic workshop related to a specific task related to the contents of this class This workshop will involve both group and individual research and analytical work. The thematic workshop comnstitutes 25% of the overall grade. 

Country brief

 To prepare for the Manual simulation exam all studens will prepare a short background paper (max 2 pages) with key information on the their respective countries in relation to the issues to be discussed in the manual exam. This will be uploaded to a canvas-page and will be made available to all students for use in the manual simulation exam. The country brief constitutes 10% of the overall grade of this class. 

Manual simulation exam:

This class will use a manual simulation exam, which aims to  demonstrate the students’ awareness and understanding of issues, covered in class related to the dilemmas and decisions involved in factual and hypothetical European security scenarios.

The manual simulation exam will be based on elements covered in class and students will train and prepare through a lead up prepclass . The exam itself will reflects elements from leadership training, role-playing and crisis management.

All students are expected to prepare VERY THOROUGHLY for the exam and it is expected, that students actively engage in all elements in the simulation and indulge in the roles assigned. The manual simulation exam constitute 25% of the overall grade.

Grading

Assignment

Percent

Participation

20%

Thematic Workshop

20%

 Mid term exam/test

25%

Manual simulation exam

25%

Country brief

10%

 

Disability and Resource Statement  

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this.  In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.

Policies

Attendance

You are expected to attend all classes, guest lectures, workshops and field studies. If you must miss a class for religious holidays, medical reasons, or other valid reasons, you must let us know as far in advance as possible of the absence and obtain information about the work you must do to keep up in class. If you miss a class for any other reason (sudden illness, family emergency, etc.), you should get in touch with us as soon as possible and arrange to make up the work missed.

It is crucial for your learning that you stay on task and hand in assignments on or before the due date. All work– including in-class projects – have to be completed in order to pass the class. Late papers or projects will be marked down with 1/3 of a grade for each day it is late.

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment

DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others.   Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software.  See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Use of computers, iPhones, cell phones etc. in class

Computers are allowed in class PURELY for note taking purposes. In case of other uses such as Facebook, emails or internet surfing, it will have a negative impact on your participation grade. Cell phones are to be shut off during class and texting/SMS’ing etc. during class will have a negative impact on your participation grade. 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due