POLI 365 - Civil Wars and Rebel Movements

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

(Same as INTL 365) Since World War II, civil wars have vastly outnumbered interstate wars, and have killed, conservatively, five times as many people as interstate wars. This seminar explores contemporary civil wars from a variety of different angles and approaches drawn primarily from political science, but also other disciplines. In addition, we consider personal accounts, journalistic coverage, and fictional accounts that seek to illustrate the reality of contemporary warfare. The course is divided into several thematic sections, each of which emphasizes the transnational nature of contemporary civil wars. Primarily, we explore literature on the organization and behavior of rebel organizations by guerrilla theorists and academics. The course also covers a selection of differing perspectives on the causes and consequences of civil conflicts. Finally, we consider an array of related subjects including female participation in political violence and the response to civil war by the international community. Mr. Mampilly.

Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

One 2-hour period.