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Strategic Studies Program (SSP)

  • Strategic Studies Program
    Zoom Recording for Katipunan Dialogue Podcast Episode 4: “Realignment of Forces in the Indo-Pacific,” with Dr. Rajeswari Rajagopalan and Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista AFP (ret.).
  • Source/Credit: Strategic Studies Program
    Zoom Recording for Katipunan Dialogue Podcast Episode 3: Regional Crisis Management: Multilateralism, with Dr. Sarah Teo, and RAdm. Rommel Ong AFP (ret.), moderated by Dr. Jean Encinas Franco
  • Source/Credit: Strategic Studies Program
    Zoom Recording for Strategic Philippine Foreign Relations: Challenges and Prospects for 2022 and Beyond webinar, with UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, Professor Tina Clemente, Professor Antoinette Raquiza, Professor Herman Joseph Kraft, Dr. Maria Thaemar Tana, Amb. Laura Quiambao-Del Rosario, and Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista AFP (ret.).

    The Strategic Studies Program (SSP) aims to promote interest, discourse, and significant changes in the Philippines foreign policy and capacity building for strategic studies. The UP CIDS SSP traces its antecedents from the UP CIDS China/Strategic Studies Program of 2015–2016.

    In 2015, the team members laid the groundwork for initiatives directed at capability building in strategic studies in the University. The program views the Philippines’ latest engagements with the great powers and other states in the Asia Pacific region as a catalyst to further collaborative and multi-disciplinary research between the intellectual communities within East Asia.

    Strategic studies is an interdisciplinary academic field centered on the study of conflict and peace strategies, often devoting special attention to the relationship between international politics, geo-strategy, international diplomacy, international economics, and military power. For developed countries and large powers, strategic studies is often seen as centered on the use of military power for defense and security purposes. For developing countries such as the Philippines, which cannot draw much leverage from military resources and therefore need to rely more on diplomacy and political stratagem, strategic studies may focus on Philippine foreign and security policy, the management of international conflict, and how the country can develop the means to match its long-term goals.

    From 2017 onwards, SSP will seek to undertake activities that will contribute to the attainment of two long-term objectives: (1) the institutionalization of training and education on strategic studies, ranging from short courses (certificate program) to a Master’s Degree; and (2) the establishment of a think tank/research institute.

    Publications


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    “Pendulum Swings” in the Philippines’ South China Sea Approach? | Discussion Paper 2 MB 246 downloads

    Pendulum Swings in the Philippines’ South China Sea Approach ...
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    Re-Evaluating Japan’s Middle Power Diplomacy: Between Aspirations and Reality | Discussion Paper 859 KB 446 downloads

    Re-Evaluating Japan’s Middle Power Diplomacy ...
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    Steering the Economy Admidst Global Uncertainties and New Developments | Discussion Paper 3 MB 43 downloads

    Steering the Economy Admidst Global Uncertainties and New Developments ...
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    The Katipunan Dialogue: A Podcast Series on Politics and International Relations | Proceedings 437 KB 65 downloads

    The Katipunan Dialogue Podcast Series International Relations ...

    Projects and Activities


    Mapping Philippine Expertise on Strategic Studies

    This project seeks to produce a directory and database of Filipino and Philippine-based experts whose work contributes, or may potentially contribute, to strengthening the foundations of strategic studies in the country.

    Others

    View the Term Reports from 2018 to 2022 for a list of SSP programs and activities, which include meetings, webinars, and/or publications (forthcoming or already published). 

    News


    The Team


    Herman Joseph S. Kraft, MA

    Convenor
    Professor
    Department of Political Science
    College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
    University of the Philippines Diliman

    Maria Thaemar C. Tana, PhD

    Co-Convenor

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Political Science
    College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
    University of the Philippines Diliman

    Maria Therese Anna C. Robles, PhD

    Research Fellow

    Strategic Studies Program

    Edcel John A. Ibarra

    Research Fellow

    Strategic Studies Program

    Ronna Shane Belaro

    Senior Project Assistant

    Strategic Studies Program