I. Foundations
Session 1: Introduction: What Is an Emerging Technology and Does It Matter?
Session 2: Thinking About the Future
- In-class futures scenario exercise
- Pitch teams assigned
Session 3: Key Tenets of International Relations Theory
Session 4: Conceptualizing Innovation
Session 5: Diffusion of Innovations
Sessions 6 and 7: Technology’s Effects on International Relations
- Shark tank pitches
II. Historical Innovations
Session 8: Dynamite
- Short form analytic article topic proposal due
Session 9: Stealth and Secret Innovations
III. Emerging Technologies and Their Security Implications (Thinking About Innovation as an Independent Variable)
Information, Intelligence, and Decision-Making
Session 10: Information Asymmetries, Big Data, and the Democratization of Information
- Quiz #1
Session 11: Delegating the “Disclosure Decision”—Commercial Satellites
Sessions 12 and 13: Artificial Intelligence
- Guest speakers: US Air Force AI Accelerator Representatives
Session 14: In-Class Midterm
Emerging Technologies, Stability, and the Use of Force
Sessions 15 and 16: Internet, Social Media, and Domestic Stability
Session 17: Social Media and the International Stage
- Midterm essay due
- Paper outline and bibliography due
Sessions 18 and 19: Cyber Warfare
- Peer reviews assigned
Session 20: Drones and Autonomous Weapon Systems
- Guest lecture: Dr. Alex de la Paz, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University
From the Lab to the Front Lines
Session 21: Biotech
- Guest lecture: Lt. Col. Jennifer Wolf, US Air Force
- Peer reviews due
Session 22: Additive Manufacturing
- Quiz #2 due
Session 23: Everyday Technologies and International Relations
IV. Application
Sessions 24 and 25: Student Presentations
- Session 25: Short form analytic article due
Session 26: Looking Ahead
