One of the aims of the RCDS Course is to develop Members’ skills in strategic analysis and policy-making at government level. One of the ways we do this is by tasking the Members to conduct fresh research and analysis on current real world international security issues.
The papers they produce, unlike the main course dissertation, are not academic papers following scholarly convention. They are short summary papers of the sort needed in government which, although based on extensive research and the consideration of a number of scenarios or options, boil down the argument to a set of key judgements and supporting rationale. To test team-working and to exploit the unique range of personal and professional experience in the international RCDS Membership, this work is conducted in small groups of 3-4 Members. It is linked to the country or region they will be visiting on their overseas study tour.
A selection of the best papers each year is published on this website.