Course syllabus Defence Strategies of the Nordic Countries

Completed courses of at least 180 credits, including a thesis work of at least 15 credits.

English proficiency equivalent to English B or English 6 is also required.

The course aims to provide the student with the opportunity to develop knowledge about the Nordic countries' military cooperation strategies with other nations and their strategies for directing, creating, and utilizing military power. The course focuses on these countries' strategic adaptations during the 21st century, as well as the future challenges arising from Finland and Sweden's NATO membership. Additionally, the course enables the student to develop the ability to analyze strategic priorities based on strategic theory and various epistemological approaches. In this regard, the course places particular emphasis on research concerning small states' strategies and the concept of strategic culture, which are illuminated and explained from different theoretical and conceptual approaches.

The learning activities of the course include introductory lectures, seminar discussions where the student practice analyzing countries' strategies based on concepts and theories, and the writing of an individual assignment aimed at developing the students ability to contrast and apply the theories and approaches introduced in the course. The written assignment also provides opportunities for deeper exploration of one of the themes covered in the course and for developing skills related to comparative methods, case studies, and the ability to compare and contrast different analytical approaches.

Type of instruction 
Lectures, Seminars, self study

Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• account for the main features of the Nordic countries' strategic priorities and decisions during the 21st century

Competence and skills 

• analyze the Nordic countries' strategies for military cooperation and the directing, creation, and utilization of military power based on different scientific approaches

• constructively apply strategic concepts and theories related to small states and strategic culture in analyses of countries' strategic priorities

Judgement and approach

•  compare and contrast different analytical approaches in the study of strategy regarding explanatory power and scientific assumptions.

The course is assessed through active participation in seminars and an individual written assignment.

The examiner may decide to request supplementary assignments in order to achieve a passing grade on the course. Supplementary assignments shall be submitted no later than three working days after the result and supplementary assignment for the examination in question have been notified. Examination papers submitted late will not be graded unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.

Grading
The student is graded on a three-point grading scale: Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with Distinction (VG). Grading criteria are reported at the latest at the start of the course.

To achieve a passing grade (G) on the course, active participation in all of the mandatory seminars and a passing grade (G) on the written assignment are required. To achieve a Pass with Distinction (VG) on the course, in addition to meeting the requirements for a passing grade (G), a Pass with Distinction (VG) on the individual written assignment is also required.

Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.

When the course is no longer offered or when the course content has changed substantially, the student has the right to be examined once per semester during a three-term period in accordance with this syllabus.