Jason Blazakis

This course examines the role of intelligence in the conduct of US national security. The course will cover the basics of intelligence, to include the intelligence cycle, intelligence requirements, types of collection and analysis, and the roles and capabilities of organizations that make up the US intelligence community. The course will look at the role of intelligence over history and include case studies.

LEARNER OUTCOMES:

1. Identify the members of the US Intelligence Community and describe their general responsibilities.

2. Understand and explain the different stages of the intelligence cycle.

3. Describe the various types (INTs) of Intelligence and corresponding US agencies in responding to national requirements.

4. Using a case study approach, understand the interaction between policy makers and the intelligence community.

5. Apply course content to write a paper on a member of the intelligence community or a intelligence collection capability and its impact to US policy.

The course is an introduction to the subject of terrorism. The course will focus on a range of fundamental questions, such as: What is Terrorism? What causes Terrorism? Why do terrorist groups emerge and how do they end? What is extremism? Why do individuals join terrorist groups? What are lone wolf terrorists? What is leaderless jihad? These are but a few of the elements that will be explored over the course of the semester. The course also aims to expose students to a wide range of terrorist groups and ideologies.

This course on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) will examine the non-violent approaches to countering violent extremism, such as prevention (preventing violent extremism, PVE), intervention, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs. The course will also examine the pathways individuals take to extremism, with a focus on the myriad of push and pull factors that can contribute to radicalization. The course will also examine the various types of CVE/PVE programs developed by governmental and non-governmental entities. The course is experiential by design and the class will participate in the Invent 2 Prevent (I2P) program sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, the McCain Institute and EdVenture Partners. I2P is a national competition whereupon, specifically, students in the class will create a tool, product, or initiative to prevent targeted violence and extremism.

This course will provide an in-depth overview into the terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (also known as the Islamic State, the Arabic acronym Daesh, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, in addition to other aliases). The rapid rise of the Islamic State has taken counterterrorism policymakers and foreign policy practitioners by surprise.

The course will also provide students a baseline understanding of Islamic jurisprudence, meaning of the caliphate, the five pillars of Islam, and Shar’ia law. Students will also learn about some of the key thinkers that have inspired global jihadist movements like ISIS and al-Qa’ida.

The course will trace the history of the Islamic State’s rise and will examine the leadership figures/personalities behind the group. The course will also examine the Islamic State’s connection and ultimate divorce from al-Qa’ida. The course will also explore how the group finances its operations as well as the rise of its affiliates.

Finally, the course will also look at ISIS’s use of foreign fighters and social media to further its agenda. Global responses to counter the Islamic State will also be discussed.

This course will provide an in-depth overview into the terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (also known as the Islamic State, the Arabic acronym Daesh, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, in addition to other aliases). The rapid rise of the Islamic State has taken counterterrorism policymakers and foreign policy practitioners by surprise.
In an effort for students to come to a common understanding of key terms that will be discussed throughout the course, a session will be devoted to understanding key concepts and terms related to Islamic history. In this regard, students should take away from the course a baseline understanding of Islamic jurisprudence, meaning of the caliphate, the five pillars of Islam, and Shar’ia law.
The course will trace the history of the Islamic State’s rise and will examine the leadership figures/personalities behind the group. The course will also examine the Islamic State’s connection and ultimate divorce from al-Qa’ida. The course will all examine how the group finances its operations as well as the rise of its affiliates.
Finally, the course will also explore the group’s use of foreign fighters and social media to further its agenda. Global responses in an effort to counter the Islamic State will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate knowledge of the history of the Islamic State from its creation to its current status as a significant power broker primarily operating in Syria and Iraq.
• Understand the key personalities and motivations of leadership figures within the Islamic State as well as methods the group utilizes to accrue wealth, territory, and general support.
• Understand the reasons for the split between the Islamic State and al-Qa’ida as well as the implications of the split to include the development of the Islamic State’s affiliates.
• Comprehend the role of women and foreign fighters within the Islamic State.
• Understand the U.S. and global response focused on countering the Islamic State through the application of soft and hard power.

The MANPTS Honors Thesis is a highly selective program through which a limited number of students will design and conduct individual research projects of professional length, scope, and quality under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Applications for the honors thesis will be accepted in the Spring from students in their second or subsequent semesters in the NPTS MA program who are currently maintaining a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Applications will require a personal statement, academic transcript, sample of research writing, proposal for the thesis, and recommendation from a member of the faculty or research staff. In recommending a student for the honors thesis, a faculty or staff member must agree to serve as the student’s thesis advisor if the student is selected for the program. The NPTS Program Chair will appoint a selection committee composed of NPTS faculty and staff from the appropriate MIIS research centers to review applications. Students will be selected for the honors thesis on the basis of GPA, demonstrated proficiency in research and analytical writing, and any other relevant criteria as determined by the selection committee. Throughout the Fall semester, thesis advisors will provide students enrolled in NPTG 8662 with individualized supervision of their thesis projects in a manner similar to a directed study. Thesis advisors will set a schedule for research and writing of the thesis and will meet with students as needed to review progress and provide comments and advice. At the end of the Fall semester, students will present their projects to the Monterey Institute community in a symposium at which invited experts will provide comments and suggestions for further development and publication of research.

The course examines how terrorist groups finance their operations. It also explores current policy approaches to curb financial support to terrorists through the application of U.S. and international sanctions, in particular how multilateral fora, such as the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force, disrupt and deter terrorist financing. At the completion of the course, students will have a better understanding of the key tools, including law enforcement, diplomacy, and intelligence, that are used to counter terrorists’ financial networks and activities. Students will use structured analytic tools such as weighted ranking methods, scenario trees, causal flow programming, game theory, and logic to form analytic judgments. Prior coursework or professional experience in intelligence, (counter) terrorism, or finance recommended.