POL 464 - Causes of War

There is hardly a more important topic in international relations than causes of war. What causes war? Why do groups of people systematically kill other groups of people? What do we need to know to prevent war if possible, and prepare for it when necessary? Is it possible to prevent war (or prepare for it) if it is often caused by accidents, miscalculation, and misperception? These are questions that this course will examine.
 

The first part of the course will examine prominent paradigms and theories about the causes of war. In the second part we will focus on specific cases of war. The third part will be dedicated to developing your own analysis of a historical case (or cases) of your choosing.

Satisfies Political Science major requirement.
Satisfies Cultural Diversity requirement

Prerequisites & Notes
Prerequisite-POL 161