2024 Fall

PUBPOL 290 014 - LEC 014

Special Topics in Public Policy

Emerging Technologies & National Security Policy (A Berkeley Changemaker Course)

Andrew W Reddie

Aug 28, 2024 - Dec 13, 2024

Mo, We

04:00 pm - 05:59 pm

GTU Student Services Center

Class #:15333

Units: 4

Instruction Mode: In-Person Instruction

Offered through Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy

Current Enrollment

Total Open Seats: -7

Enrolled: 12

Waitlisted: 0

Capacity: 5

Waitlist Max: 5

No Reserved Seats

1 to 4 hours of instructor presentation of course materials per week, 2 to 8 hours of outside work hours per week, and 0 to 2 hours of the exchange of opinions or questions on course material per week.

Other classes by Andrew W Reddie

Course Catalog Description

Course examines current problems and issues in the field of public policy. Topics may vary from year to year and will be announced at the beginning of the semester. Open to students from other departments.

Class Description

Will artificial intelligence technologies revolutionize warfare? Can the threat of cyber attacks be used to deter adversaries? How do governments drive technological innovation in support of national security? What is the responsibility of the private sector when engaging in R&D with dual-use applications? To answer these questions, this course examines the intersection between politics, security, and technology both in the United States and across the globe. The course is divided into four parts: 1) Linking Politics, Security, and Technology in Theory 2) Technology and War: A History; 3) Today’s “Emerging” Technologies; and 4) Tomorrow’s Technologies. Given the necessary breadth, our seminar will consider work from international relations, economics, science and technology studies, law, as well as non-academic writing in popular outlets. Topics include: offset strategies, offense-defense balance theory, grey-zone competition, conceptualizing strategic stability, escalation, the economics of industrial policy, and innovation policy. Technologies considered include: robotics, autonomous platforms (UAVs, UUVs), sensors for remote detection, machine learning, hypersonic missiles, missile defense technologies, and nuclear modernization.

Class Notes

Enrollment Guidelines:

All Goldman School of Public Policy graduate level courses (PUBPOL 200 and higher) are only available during Phase I, II, and Adjustment Period to Master’s students in Public Policy, Public Affairs, Development Practice, and PhD in Public Policy.

Graduate students from other departments must add themselves to the class waitlist and wait until the end of the 3rd week of instruction to determine their enrollment status. Enrollment in GSPP courses is not guaranteed and is determined on a space available basis.

If you have enrollment questions, send an email to gsppscheduler@berkeley.edu and we'll respond as soon as we can. show less