War, Peace and Violence

Catalog description

This course will examine the theory and practice of the Just War doctrine. At the most general level, we will be concerned with the debate between realists, just war theorists and pacifists over the moral character of war. More specific topics include the justification of defensive, pre-emptive and preventive wars; humanitarian intervention; the combatant/noncombatant distinction; the distinction between direct and "collateral" harm to civilians; sieges, blockades and economic sanctions; guerrilla warfare; terrorism and reprisals; nuclear deterrence; and various religious conceptions of war and peace, especially those found in various Christian pacifist and Islamic traditions.