As we enter into the 21st century, the bases of international security are undergoing profound changes. The end of the Cold War, the emergence of new power centres in East Asia, the outbreak of ethnic and nationalistic conflicts around the globe, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, are some of the factors that have transformed the nature of conflict in the international arena. The global security architecture is in a state of flux, due to the rising power and influence of countries such as China, Japan and Germany.
Security is also no longer a matter of military force alone.
The challenge of conflict management has become more complex. Against this backdrop, it is vital that professionals in the fields of defence and foreign relations are not only conversant with the new security concepts and strategic theories, but also acquire the know-how and skills in strategic planning, design and policy analysis. Such a training would also be useful for corporate planners who will be grappling with the complexities of globalisation. It aims to develop and nurture a community of strategic thinkers in Singapore who are conversant with real strategic issues in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. The blend of courses are intended to introduce students to the current thinking on the whole spectrum of strategic and defence-related issues.