Course Description
Major theories of international conflict. The objective is to explore the logical and empirical foundations for the key hypotheses linking systemic, structural, coalitional, and individual factors to decisions regarding war and peace. Also, introduces the different types of methodologies currently used in the quantitative study of international relations.
Athena Title
INTERNATL CONFLICT
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in POLS 6230
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will gain an understanding about the conditions that affect the prospects for war between nation-states. Various factors at different levels of analysis (decision-making, national, dyadic, and systemic) will be considered in an attempt to understand why states go to war. In addition, students will gain a deeper understanding of the historical patterns, expansion, and outcomes of war. After taking this course, the students will have a broad familiarity with the theoretical and methodological approaches in the study of international conflict and be able to apply this knowledge to their own research agendas.
Topical Outline
I. STUDYING WAR A. The Logic of Inquiry B. Identifying Wars and Other Armed Conflicts C. Historical Patterns II. DECISION-MAKING APPROACHES A. Rational Choice and Expected Utility B. Psychological Approaches III. KEY FACTORS AT THE NATIONAL AND DYADIC LEVELS OF ANALYSIS A. Regime Type: The Democratic Peace B. Economic Factors C. Geography D. Alliances and Arms Races E. Power Distribution IV. SYSTEMIC INFLUENCES AND WAR A. Polarity and Hegemony B. Civilizational Rifts V. OUTCOMES OF CONFLICT