The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the study of
war.  We will examine key concepts and theories used by scholars to
analyze different aspects of warfare and conflict.  Strong emphasis
will be placed on the evaluation of the empirical literature on
conflict.  However, war is not only an exceptional enterprise in its
practical application; it is also an ethically exceptional
institution.  Traditional theoretical explanations often miss a rich
literature that focuses on the moral issues raised by war and
conflict.  Therefore, this course seeks to combine both empirical and
normative approaches to understanding conflict on the international
level.  Additionally, at the heart of the study of war is a desire to
understand what factors foster and sustain peace.  These topics will
also be addressed throughout the course.
Upon the end of the Cold War, most would argue that political
interactions on the global scale have changed drastically.  Mindful
of these arguments and evolving patterns of behavior, this course
will explore the emergence of “new” wars and the changing nature of
conflict.  These influences include ethnic, religious, and
nationalist motivations, the internationalization of conflict (e.g.,
intervention, resolution, and conflict management), and concerns
about war crimes and the criminal culpability of war’s participants.
To do this, continuity and change in international conflict will be
examined via the analysis of a variety of case studies.
The instructors hope to help the students develop a framework for
analyzing war in a systematic manner.  It is this desire that
underlies our efforts to present both applicable practical and
ethical evaluations.  In sum, not only is it our aim that students
understand the realities of conflict.  By combining this
sophisticated understanding of the causes, results, and resolution of
conflict with concerns about the moral justification of war (with
regard to war’s beginning, war’s means, and its end), students will
emerge prepared to formulate thoughtful, concrete opinions on issues
of global conflict.