Teaching Deterrence: A 21st-Century Update

Abstract

Although deterrence was one of the cornerstones of the international relations field for much of the 20th century, today surveys demonstrate that most students lack even a basic understanding of this concept. Yet, in the light of recent events on the Korean Peninsula, in China, and the post-Soviet space, our civilian and military leaders continue to emphasize the need to develop and foster critical and strategic thinking on deterrence. In this essay, we ask how we can nurture the next generation of strategic thinkers and leaders without deliberately leaving teaching “defense” concepts to the military. We propose updating our reading lists to include the emerging and innovative literature on deterring 21st-century threats, and teaching with current policy documents, problem-based learning, and simulations. More specifically, we suggest strengthening students’ critical thinking and writing skills through collaborative research projects and encouraging experiential learning opportunities.

Keywords:

• Deterrence
• curriculum
• undergraduate and graduate education
• collaborative research
• experiential learning

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lana Obradovic

Lana Obradovic is an assistant professor of political science and director of Intelligence Community Centers of Academic Excellence Program at University of Nebraska–Omaha. As a founding member of the USSTRATCOM Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance, she directly supervised student teams that won the General Larry D. Welch Deterrence Writing Award in 2016, 2017, and 2018. She is also a faculty member in USSTRACOM's Strategic Leadership Fellows Program.

Michelle Black

Michelle Black is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science of the University of Nebraska–Omaha, a research fellow for the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska, and an associate editor for the Space and Defense Journal. In addition to her academic career, Dr. Black has over seventeen years of professional experience with the Department of Defense. During that time, she initiated and directed the Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance, recruiting over 35 academic institutions to the program. and a deterrence analyst.