Conflicts in the Digital Age: Information Operations and Cyber Warfare

Dr. Michael Raska/ S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University Singapore

Winter 2022/23

This course offers an introductory view on the evolving concepts, processes, and debates of information and cyber conflicts whether in political, military, socio-economic, and intelligence domains that are shaping international security. The goal is to provide students with an overall but solid knowledge of cyber and information operations and to encourage them to find their own personal interest in the broad variety of topics these areas offer.

Specifically, the first half of the course is devoted primarily to excavating the historical, theoretical, and conceptual components of cyber and information operations. The second half of the course then focuses on particular case studies of both state and non-state actors – how they conceptualize, plan, integrate, and exploit varying cyber-enabled means to advance their political objectives. The highlight of the course will be the SIMULATION EXERCISE; the “game” will focus on the use of cyber strategic interactions and political decision-making in a crisis situation.

Dr Michael Raska is currently Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Military Transformations Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. His research interests focus on defense and military innovation, the effects of emerging technologies and open source-based intelligence assessments on emerging threats.

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