War and Change in International Politics (383-0-1)
Instructors
Saera Lee
Meeting Info
Parkes Hall 212: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM
Overview of class
Is war among the major powers inevitable? For much of modern history, the major powers have fought numerous wars for territorial and economic gains, to settle grievances and past wrongs, or to advance their status. By contrast, the post WW II era marks the longest period in which no major power war has occurred. How was that possible? And will this "long Peace" last?
The course will take both a contemporary as well as a historical look at how states have constructed rules of the game to facilitate trade, foster peace, and engage in cultural interaction. We will first look at various explanations of why major power wars occurred, and then turn to different perspectives of how international systems and international societies can be managed. We will consequently study Western as well as non-Western systems.
In the first part of the course, we will read various theories regarding the likelihood of major power war or high level of armed conflict. After that you will have the option of choosing between various modules that focus on a given regional area or topic. Some of the modules take a historical approach that might reveal a variety of modes of how stable orders might be created. For example you could examine how the Chinese tributary system maintained stable relations with some states for centuries without much conflict. Or you could analyze how international relations might be understood in the Islamic world. More broadly one might study whether different conceptions of international relations can be reconciled. Overall the objective of the course if for you to develop your own perspectives and expectations regarding how the international system might evolve in the future and to think about topics that dovetail with your specific interests for the final essay.
Registration Requirements
Introduction to International Relations
Learning Objectives
This course aims to understand the conditions for war and peace in international relations. Throughout the course, students will examine causes of war, the outcomes and consequences of war and solutions to prevent or limit war. Students will be able to apply the factors that promote or mitigate international conflict and should be able to apply these factors in examining real world scenarios and assessing the prospect of future conflict in troubled areas. The course is an upper division course in the general field of international relations; thus, students would benefit from taking POLI_SCI 240-0 (Introduction to International Relations) prior to this course.
Evaluation Method
Participation: 15%
Midterms: 50%
Final Essay: 35%
Class Materials (Required)
Levy, Jack S. and William R. Thompson. 2010. Causes of War. West Sussex, UK. Wiley- Blackwell. Paperback: ISBN: 978-1405175593.
Mitchell, Sara McLaughlin and John A. Vasquez. 2013. Conflict, War, and Peace: An Introduction to Scientific Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press/Sage. ISBN: 978-1-4522-4449-5.
Class Attributes
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area