Module description
This module introduces the role of Land, Sea, Air, Space and Cyber power in modern war and traces the evolution of warfare from distinct operational environments - domains - to multi-domain operations that define warfare today. First, the module provides an overview of the physical and conceptual elements of each domain, how military power is generated within them and highlighting the principal operational and technological developments across the 20th and early 21st centuries. During this period, the traditional land and maritime domains were supplemented by air and later by space and cyber, significantly increasing the scope and complexity of warfare. Battlespaces expanded, the temporal characteristics of conflict evolved, and military power could be projected further and faster. The second element this module explores is how the domains increasingly came to interact and what consequences this has on the conduct of military operations and the outcomes of war. Questions here include how military services relate to each other and how military forces are organised, equipped and integrated, especially with the incremental emergence of joint warfare since the Second World War. Thirdly, the module addresses how present-day multi-domain operations are understood. The evolving process of establishing domain awareness and the relationship between kinetic (physical) activity and information in the pursuit of military and political objectives in and across domains. Finally it addresses current and evolving technological and operational trends that are shaping contemporary warfare.
Assessment details
| Review Paper |
1000 words |
30% |
| Research Project |
3000 words |
70% |
Educational aims & objectives
The aims of this module are to:
- further knowledge of the parameters and evolution of modern warfare;
- develop understanding of the domains, their physical, political and operational characteristics and how these influence the conduct of war;
- investigate how military power is conceived, created and organised at service and domain level and how these elements have evolved across the modern era;
- explore the integration of military forces in and across the domains, what shapes the process and its implications on military operations and war.
Learning outcomes
- Gain familiarity with core concepts, debates and literature relating to the evolution of modern warfare.
- Develop an appreciation of environments and battlespaces and their influence on war.
- Critically evaluate how determinants like technology, logistics, intelligence or strategic culture shape warfare.
- Outline what are domain‑specific and universal factors in the creation and application of military power.
- Acquire skills and knowledge to synthesise concepts, historic and contemporary case examples to analyse and explain multi‑domain military operations.
- Affinity in acquiring foundational knowledge and new subject‑matter expertise.
- Critical reasoning and analytical skills to examine issues in original ways.
- Ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively with evidence‑based analysis.
- Project design and management for independent research work.
Teaching pattern
This is a Full Year, two-term module that will be taught through a combination of weekly in person lectures and seminars. Lectures will be delivered by the module convenors and will outline a topic’s fundamentals, conceptual elements and case examples. Seminars will be delivered by GTAs and will offer the opportunity to deepen understanding and examine further cases.