Principles of International Security

This course introduces students to the central debates in international security through a neoclassical liberal-realist lens, combining classical theories of power politics with contemporary perspectives on cooperation, institutions, and hierarchy. Across twelve sessions, we will explore how states accumulate, measure, and project power; how balances of power and deterrence shape international order; and how new domains such as cyber, finance, and artificial intelligence transform security dynamics. A distinctive feature of the course is its quantitative outlook: students will engage directly with datasets (e.g., CINC, SIPRI, ACLED), statistical tools, and machine learning models to test theories against empirical evidence. By the end of the course, students will not only understand the theoretical foundations of security studies but also acquire practical skills to evaluate claims about power, conflict, and strategy through data-driven methods.