Special Topics in Political Science (490-0-28)

Topic

Civil War and Its Legacies

Instructors

Ana Maria Arjona
Scott Hall, Room 237
Office Hours: http://www.polisci.northwestern.edu/people/core-faculty/ana-arjona.html

Meeting Info

Scott Hall 201 Ripton Room: Thurs 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

This seminar focuses on the micro-level dynamics of civil war and their legacies. We will address questions related to the behavior of civilians and combatants in civil war contexts, such as the following: Why do civilians join rebels, paramilitaries, or militias? Why do they resist against the presence of these groups in their territory? Why do they support them? Why do they leave their hometowns to become refugees or internally displaced? Why do combatants victimize civilians? Why do they use different levels and types of violence? Why do they rule local populations and how? We will also study the legacies of some of these wartime phenomena on individual behavior, local governance, and local politics.

Learning Objectives

Students will learn about key arguments and findings on the dynamics of civil war and their legacies

Teaching Method

Seminar

Evaluation Method

- 3 Memos throughout the quarter discussing the readings assigned for a given week.
- 1 Presentation on an assigned book
- Final paper

Class Materials (Required)

Kalyvas, Stathis, 2006. The Logic of Violence in Civil War. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 9780511818462

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for Graduate Students.