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FS 056 The Geography of War
Spring 2002 (Prof. Herb)

 

KEY ISSUES IN MILITARY GEOGRAPHY


ASSIGNMENT

You are asked to write a 5-page research paper on one of the key issues in military geography that are listed below. The paper should introduce the issue, discuss its relevance, and provide concrete examples. Be sure to include bibliographic references and to add maps. You have complete freedom in choosing your examples; they can be from any time period or location. Your findings also have to be presented to the class in a 5-minute oral presentation (with visuals). Please sign up for one of the topics on the presentation schedule that is posted outside my office door. The first draft of the paper is due on the day of presentation. The final draft is due two weeks later. The paper and oral presentation count for 20% of your grade.


TOPICS

  • Logistic
  • Wetlands/Swamps
  • Coastlands
  • Deserts
  • Arctic/Winter
  • Urban
  • Humid Tropics
  • Biological/Chemical Warfare
  • Forests
  • Nuclear/Space Warfare


PLEASE NOTE

  1. Be precise in your terminology and keep in mind terms and general military concepts mentioned in the readings and in class, such as: strategy, tactics, key terrain, choke points, cross-compartments and corridors, open and close terrain, etc.
  2. Be sure to give due attention to the influence of the physical environment, paying special attention to changes introduced by technological developments.
  3. To give you an understanding of the depth of research that I expect for this assignment, I will hand out a copy of an A paper on Mountain Warfare in class. I have also placed the following books on 2-hour reserve at Armstrong to help you get started on your project. You should consult several additional sources to prepare your report. Solely relying on the examples in one book, such as Winters, Battling the Elements, is not acceptable.
    o Ashworth, G. War and the City (UA990 A79 1991)
    o Collins, John, Military Geography for Professionals & the Public (UA990. C554 1998)
    o H. Faringdon, Strategic Geography (UA 646. F37. 1989)
    o Macksey & Woodhouse, Penguin Encyclopedia of Modern Warfare (U39. M32. 1991)
    o O'Sullivan & Miller, The Geography of Warfare (UA990.O78.1983)
    o Peltier & Pearcy, Military Geography (H30. HERB)
    o Winters, Harold Battling the Elements (UA990. B35 1998)

 

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