What can literature contribute to the study of strategy? In this seminar, military historian and strategic advisor Eliot Cohen explores what students of strategy can learn about the exercise of power from an enduring master, William Shakespeare.

Through a close reading of Shakespeare’s most famous history play, Henry V (1599), fellows will meditate on the events that secured legitimacy for the House of Tudor – how Prince Hal takes the throne and leads England to victory in war against France.

Image Credit: The King of England Receiving the French Herald, 1485

Eliot Cohen on Shakespeare's "rough magic."

This course takes place via Zoom over three sessions, held the week of January 3, from 2:00 to 3:15 PM ET. Fellows will receive a $100 stipend contingent upon participation in the course and completion of a brief response paper. All course materials will be provided.

Faculty

Eliot Cohen

Eliot Cohen is the Robert E. Osgood Professor at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) where he has taught since 1990. He served as Dean of SAIS from 2019 to 2021. In addition to public service in the Department of Defense he served as Counselor of the Department of State from 2007 to 2009.

Eliot A. Cohen

Eliot A. Cohen is the Robert E. Osgood Professor at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he has taught since 1990. He served as Dean of SAIS from 2019 to 2021. Cohen received his BA and PhD degrees from Harvard University and, after teaching there and at the Naval War College, founded the Strategic Studies program at SAIS. His books include The Big Stick (2017), Conquered into Liberty (2011), and Supreme Command (2002). In addition to public service in the Department of Defense, he served as Counselor of the Department of State from 2007 to 2009. He writes frequently for major newspapers and is a contributing writer at The Atlantic.

A 1977 graduate of Harvard College, he received his Ph.D. there in political science in 1982. From 1982 to 1985 he was Assistant Professor of Government at Harvard, and Assistant Dean of Harvard College. In 1985 he became a member of the Strategy Department of the United States Naval War College. In February 1990 he joined the Policy Planning Staff of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and in July of that year he was appointed professor of strategic studies at SAIS.

From April 2007 through January 2009 he served as Counselor of the Department of State. A principal officer of the Department, he had special responsibility for advising the Secretary on matters pertaining to Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia, as well as general strategic issues. He was the lead Department of State liaison with the Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan. He represented the Department of State in interagency coordination with senior National Security Council staff, Department of Defense, and intelligence community officials on a number of issues, including the Syrian/North Korean reactor crisis of 2007, and the Somali piracy problem in 2008.

In 2021, he joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) as the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy, a prestigious position which centers on long-term strategic competition, advanced technology and the changing character of war, and issues of liberal democracy and national security.

Download the Full Syllabus

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Preview the Syllabus by Week/Session

Readings:

Topics:

  • What did Shakespeare know about politics?
  • Henry’s back story

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why and to what purpose does Shakespeare use the device of the Chorus?
  2. How do the domestic discontents of Henry’s realm shape his decision for war?
  3. Why does Henry set up the three conspirators rather than simply arrest them?

Readings:

Topics:

  • The power of rhetoric
  • The burdens of kingship

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does his action at Harfleur teach us about Henry?
  2. Is Henry’s soliloquy in 4.1. a just reflection on his responsibility for the war?
  3. What makes the St. Crispin’s Day speech (4.3.) so effective?

Readings:

Topics:

  • Politics as seduction
  • Politics as stagecraft

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does Henry negotiate with the French King and court?
  2. Why does his seduction of Kate succeed?
  3. And again, the Chorus. Why do we believe it? Or do we? Should we?

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