Understanding Conflict and War

Catalog description

Provides a critical overview of different definitions and meanings of war and armed conflict. Engages key theories used to understand conflict including realism, neorealism, liberalism and constructivism. Considers core issues in the field, linking empirical studies with explanations for what drives, sustains and resolves conflict including reviewing the fact that democratic states tend not to go to war with each other (the democratic peace); the structure and logic of arms races; escalation and alliance; and core ideas regarding peace, conflict management and conflict resolution. Many of the issues and theories reviewed in this class are linked with case studies and concrete examples.