AMITY UNIVERSITY

UTTAR PRADESH
Annexure ‘CD – 01’
Course Title: Conceptual Aspects of War

Credit Units: 06 L T P/S SW No. of TOTAL

Course Code: DSS102 / PSDA CREDIT
Course Level: UG FW UNITS
4 0 0 4 4 6

Course Objectives: The course will introduce the students with the meaning, concept,
types, techniques, and characteristics of various types of war. It will also explain to the
students the causes, consequences as well as objectives of different types of war. Another
goal of the course is to understand war as an instrument of state policy.

Pre-requisites: General awareness about social sciences and world history.

Course Contents / Syllabus: Weightage

1 Module I: Conceptual Formulations 20%
Descriptors/Topics 12 Sessions

 Origin, meaning, relevance of Defence and Strategic Studies and its

linkages with other disciplines.
 Concepts of Frontier, Borders, and Boundaries.
 State, Nation & Warfare (Linkages)
 Causes of War (Geography, Resource, Identity).
 Basic Concepts: Campaign, Battle, Strategy, Tactics, Security,
Defence and Offence.
 Ancient Indian warfare and Defence Strategies.

2 Module II: Principles of War & Warfare 20%

Descriptors/Topics 12 Sessions

 Modern Warfare: Concept, definition and features of Modern

Warfare.
 Principles of War: objective, mass, economy of force, unity of
command.
 Principles of War: security, manoeuvre, offensive, surprise, and
simplicity.
 War as an instrument of policy: Past, Present and Future.
 International Arms Trade and Industrialisation of War.
 Post Modern War

3 Module III: Types of Warfare 20%

Descriptors/Topics 12 Sessions

 Total and Limited Warfare.

 Guerrilla Warfare: Origin, concept, principles, techniques and
characteristics; Counter guerrilla measures.
 Psychological Warfare: Definition and concept; Functions and
Limitations.
 Economic Warfare: Concept, definition, basic dimensions; Effects of
 war on National Economy.
Nuclear warfare: Beginning of nuclear era and effects of nuclear
explosion; Nuclear strategies of Deterrence, Massive Retaliation,
and Flexible Response.
 Chemical and Biological Warfare: Definition and concept; Agents,
their effect and military use (Covid-19 as case study)
4 Module IV: Traditional and Non-Traditional Warfare 20%

Descriptors/Topics 12 Sessions
Traditional & Joint Warfare

 Land Warfare
 Naval Warfare
 Air Warfare
Non-Traditional Warfare
 Hybrid Warfare
 Cyber Warfare
 Diplomatic Warfare

5 Module V: Tools, Techniques & Strategic Aspects of Warfare 20%

Descriptors/Topics 12 Sessions

 Intelligence & Surveillance.

 C4I2SR Capabilities-Intelligence gathering & Reconnaissance
Strategy.
 Strategic Culture: Definition & Concept.
 Military Doctrines.
 Civil-Military Relations
 Fourth Industrial Revolution: From STEM to STEAM.

Lab/ Practical details, if applicable: Not Applicable

Course Learning Outcomes: After completing this course the student will be able to:

 Define basic concepts related to war.

 Explain the meaning and concept of war.
 Identify various types & techniques of warfare.
 Distinguish between traditional & non-traditional warfare, tactics & strategy.
 Discover the relationship between strategic aspects of warfare and its tools.
 Examine the war as an instrument of policy, concept and theories of nuclear war
and relationship between industrialisation of war and arms trade.

Pedagogy for Course Delivery:

 Blended mode of learning.

 Module wise e-content shall be available to the students.
 Essential readings before the conduct of class.
 Lecture, student presentation, group discussion and case studies shall be used as part of the
pedagogy.
 Guest lectures, group as well as computer mediated activities shall be used wherever
appropriate and applicable in different modules.
 List of PSDA:

 Essay Writing
 Presentation
 Home Assignment
 Group Discussion

Lab/ Practical details, if applicable: Not Applicable

Theory Assessment (L&T):

Continuous Assessment/Internal Assessment/PSDA

(50%)

End Term Exam (50%)

Components Essay Presentation Home Group Quiz/
(Drop down) Writing Assignment Discussion Class Test

Attendance
Linkage of
PSDA with
Internal PSDA1 PSDA2 PSDA 3 PSDA4
Assessment
Component,
if any
Weightage 10 10 10 5 10 5 50
(%)

Mapping Continuous Evaluation components/PSDA with CLOs

Bloom’s Level > Remembering Understanding Applying Analysing Evaluating Creating

Course CLO1 CLO2 CLO3 CLO4, CLO2,
Learning CLO5 CLO6
Outcomes

Assessment
type/PSDA
Essay Writing ✓ ✓ ✓
Presentation ✓ ✓ ✓
Home ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Assignment
Group Discussion ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Quiz/Class Test ✓ ✓ ✓

Text Reading / References/ Additional Readings/ Additional Resources:

Suggested Readings:

1. Andreski, S., (1968) Military Organization and Society, Univ. California Press, Berkeley.
2. Anthony, James Joes, (1996) Guerrilla Conflict before the Cold War, Praeger Publishers,
Westport, Connecticut, London.
3. Aron, R., (1966) Peace and War: A Theory of International Relations, Praeger, New York.
4. Barringer, R., 1972) War: Patterns of Conflict, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.
5. Blainey, G., (1973) The Causes of War, Macmillan, London.
6. Montgomery, Viscount, (1983) A History of Warfare, William Morrow & Co, New York City.
7. Mukherji and Shyam Lal, (1952) A Textbook of Military Science, Vol. II., Navayuga, New Delhi.
8. Osanka, F.M., (1962) Modern Guerrilla Warfare, Free Press of Glencoe, New York.
9. Sidhu, K.S., (1988) War and Its Principles, Atlantic, New Delhi.
10. Tripathi, K.S., (1970) Evolution of Nuclear Strategies, Vikas, New Delhi
11. Wright, Quincy, (1942) Study of War, University of Chicago Press.
12. War as an Instrument of Policy. Available at
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057%2F9780230513679_9

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