This course is intended to introduce the student to the theories, concepts, and issues underlying conflict and security in the contemporary world. The course will examine classical and modern perspectives on war and peace, the sources and causes of civil wars and regional conflict, and the prospects for arms control and world peace-keeping operations.
Attendance is required. Points will be deducted for failure to attend on a regular basis. There will be a Midterm Examination (30 points), a Final Examination (40 points), and two Tests (15 points each). The Midterm and Final will consist of analytical essay questions. The Tests will consist of True/False, Multiple Choice, and short questions based on the readings. Test dates are provided below:
Test One: Thursday, February 24 |
Test Two: Thursday, April 28 |
Midterm:Tuesday, March 8 |
Final:Friday, May 13, 1 - 3 PM |
[Note: Tests dates are subject to change. Make-up tests may involve penalties and will be given only under exceptional circumstances.]
A = 94-100 |
C = 74-78 |
AB = 89-93 |
CD = 69-73 |
B = 84-88 |
D = 64-68 |
BC = 79-83 |
F = below 64 |
- Richard K. Betts, Editor, Conflict After the Cold War, Macmillan 2005. [RB]
- Michael Klare & Y. Chandrani, Editors, World Security, St. Martins Press (latest Edition) [K&C]
- Joseph Nye, Understanding International Conflicts, Addison Wesley Longman (3rd Edition) 2000 [JN]
- Randall Forsberg, et al, Nonproliferation Primer, M.I.T. Press, 1995 [RF]
- Raju G. C. Thomas, Selected Readings, [Bound Volume}
1. The New World of Conflict & Security
“What is International Politics?” JN: 1-11
Seyom Brown, "World Interests and the Changing Dimensions of Security," K&C: 1-17
John Mueller, “The Obsolescence of Major War,” RB: 146-157
John J. Mearsheimer, "Why We Will Soon Miss the Cold War," RB: 17-32
2. Classical Perspectives on War and Peace
“The Peloponnesian War” JN: 12-20
Thucydides, "The Melian Dialogue," RB: 55-59
Immanuel Kant, “Perpetual Peace” RB: 121-127
Niccolo Machiavelli, “Doing Evil in Order to Do Good,” RB: 60-64
Hedley Bull, "Society and Anarchy in International Relations," RB: 128-138
3. Realist and Idealist Perspectives
Edward Carr, "Realism and Idealism," RB: 69-85
Kenneth Waltz, "The Origins of War in Neorealist Theory," RB: 86-92
Geoffrey Blainey, "Power, Culprits and Arms," RB: 105-116
Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye, "Power and Interdependence," RB: 139-145
4. Defense, Deterrence and Collective Security
“Balance of Power and World War I” JN: 57-83
“The Failure of Collective Security and World War II” JN: 84-111
“The Cold War” JN: 112-146
5. The Economics of War
Niccolo Machiavelli, “Money Is Not the Sinews of War,” RB: 223-225
Geoffrey Blainey, “Paradise is Bazaar,” RB: 228-235
V.I. Lenin, “Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism,” RB: 236-242
Richard Rosecrance, “Trade and Power,” RB: 274-286
5. The Morality and Laws of War
“Ethical Questions and International Politics” JN: 20-31
“Moral Issues” JN: 143-146
1. Ethnicity, Nationalism and Civil War
Michael E. Brown, "The Causes of Internal Conflict," K&C: 180-199
Ernest Gellner, "Nations and Nationalism," RB: 307-317
Chaim Kaufmann, “Possible and Impossible Solutions to Ethnic Civil Wars,” RB: 331-348
Radha Kumar, “The Troubled History of Partition,” RB: 349-356
“Conflicts in the Middle East,” JN: 170-183
Raju G. C. Thomas, "Competing Nationalisms: Secessionist Movements and the State," in Harvard International Review, Summer 1997. [Bound Volume]
2. International Intervention and New Age Conflict
“Sovereignty and Intervention” JN: 150-169
Martha Finnemore, “Constructing Norms of Humanitarian Intervention,” RB: 202-217
Richard Betts, “The Delusion of Impartial Intervention,” RB: 597-607
Karen Dawisha, "The Imperial Impulse: Russia and the Near Abroad," K&C: 78-95
Francis Fukuyama, "The End of History?" RB: 5-16
Samuel Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations,” RB: 33-50
Benjamin R. Barber, “Jihad Vs. McWorld,” RB: 558-567
3. Low Intensity Conflcts: Insurgency, Terrorism, Proxy Wars
Raju G. C. Thomas, “What is Third World Security?” [Handout]
Samuel P. Huntington, “Patterns of Violence in World Politics,” RB: 467-490
Martha Crenshaw, “The Strategic Logic of Terrorism,” RB: 491-504
Mark Juergensmeyer, “Religious Radicalism and Political Violence,” RB: 505-519
1. Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Randall Forsberg, Non-Proliferation Primer, 1-125
Zachary Davis, "Nuclear Proliferation and Nonproliferation in the 1990s," K&C: 135-159
Kenneth Waltz, "The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: More May be Better,” RB: 433-444
Raju G. C. Thomas, Chapter from The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime [Bound volume]
Raju G. C. Thomas, “Energy and Security,” [Bound volume]
2. The International Trade in Arms
Michael Klare & Lora Lumpe, "Fanning the Flames of War: Conventional Arms Transfers in the 1990s," K&C: 160-179
4. The United Nations and Peace-Keeping Forces
Margaret Karns and Karen Mingst, "Evolution of UN Peacekeeping and Peacemaking," K&C: 200-228
5. Environmental & Demographic Security
Janet Welsh Brown, "International Environmental Cooperation as a Contribution to World Security," K&C, 317-341
John Cooley, "The War Over Water," RB: 557-566
Charlotte Bunch & Roxanna Carrillo, "Global Violence Against Women," K&C: 229-248
Thomas Homer-Dixon, "Environmental Changes as Causes of Acute Conflict," RB: 567-582
The following chart indicates approximately how Letter Grades correspond to the Numerical Range of Points obtained in the individual and cumulative examinations and quizzes.
Letter |
Out of 15 |
Out of 30 |
Out of 45 |
Out of 60 |
Out of 75 |
Out of 100 |
Grade |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
14.5 - 15 |
28.5 - 30 |
42.5 - 45 |
56.5 - 60 |
70.5 - 75 |
94 - 100 |
AB |
13.5 - 14 |
27 - 28 |
40 - 42 |
53.5 - 56 |
66.5 - 70 |
89 - 93 |
B |
12.5 - 13 |
25 - 26.5 |
37.5 - 39.5 |
50.5 - 53 |
63 - 66 |
84 - 88 |
BC |
11.5 - 12 |
23.5 - 24.5 |
35.5 - 37 |
47.5 - 50 |
59 - 62.5 |
79 - 83 |
C |
11 |
22 - 23 |
33.5 - 35 |
44.5 - 47 |
55.5 - 58.5 |
74 - 78 |
CD |
10 - 10.5 |
20.5 - 21.5 |
31 - 33 |
41.5 - 44 |
51.5 - 55 |
69 - 73 |
D |
9.5 |
19 - 20 |
28.5 - 30.5 |
38.5 - 41 |
48 - 51 |
64 - 68 |
F |
Below 9 |
Below 18 |
Below 28 |
Below 38 |
Below 47 |
Below 63 |
