Aim:
To examine, from a strategic perspective, the current position and prospects for security, stability and prosperity in key states and regions of the world.
Content:
The term lasts for 22 weeks. It includes lectures, panels and seminars on:
- The United Kingdom
- Europe
- Africa
- Middle East
- Russia and Eurasia
- South Asia
- Asia-Pacific
- The Americas
- The polar regions
The term includes study visits to the different parts of the United Kingdom. It culminates in extended study tours to those regions of the world that are the subjects of Members’ strategic analysis.
Early in Term 3 the course splits into groups to undertake separate study visits to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and five regions of England. The aim is to assess the trends and the prospects for social stability, economic prosperity and democratic governance – as a pre-cursor case study to the critical analysis of other regions of the world to follow later in the term.
The 2011/12 study visits examined:
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
- The North West of England
- The East of England
- The Midlands
- Yorkshire and Humberside
The study tours are based on balanced programmes that allow each group the opportunity to examine at first hand the strengths and major challenges facing the different parts of the United Kingdom. Typically, they will visit the seat of government, local industry, organisations that typify the region, and leaders in health, education, police and other public services.
The findings of each study visit are presented to the whole course on return to RCDS.
The culmination of Term 3 is the Overseas Study Tour. The course divides into 6 groups, each led by a 2-star officer, studying a different region of the world. The purpose of these tours is:
- To examine, at first hand and from a strategic perspective, the current position and prospects for the stability, security and prosperity of each country and region visited.
Each tour lasts for 3 weeks, and three or four countries are visited. Visit programmes are developed by the college in concert with the British Embassy or High Commission, working together with the host nation authorities. The programmes are busy and varied, including as broad a cross-section as possible of national and regional government, society and the economy.
Events range from audiences with heads of state to meeting ordinary citizens in villages, schools or hospitals. On return to the UK, the study groups deliver a substantive analytical presentation of their findings to the remainder of the course, and submit written reports on each country and the region.
For the 2011/12 Course there will be 6 study tours covering:
- Eurasia (Russia, Turkey and Georgia)
- Middle East (Israel, Palestinian Occupied Territories, Egypt and Saudi Arabia)
- Americas (USA, Mexico, Cuba and Jamaica)
- Sub-Saharan Africa (Botswana, Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan)
- Far East (China, Thailand and Vietnam)
- Balkans (Greece, FYRo Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina))