POL 332W Fall, 2012 University of Hartford T/Th: 2:05-3:20

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1 POL 332W Fall, 2012 University of Hartford T/Th: 2:05-3:20 Michael Clancy Office: H 123B clancy@hartford.edu Hours: T/R 11-12/by x4284 appt. The Politics of War Many of the most enduring questions regarding international politics revolve around war. War has altered the landscape of international politics since the times of the Greeks and Romans and is responsible for the birth and death of nation-states. Why do wars happen? What features either facilitate war or help keep peace? What are the social, political and economic effects of war? How has technology changed both the process and results of war? How has war as an idea and practice evolved and to what extent has it transformed the world in which we live? This course seeks to provide answers to these questions by examining a series of international conflicts. As a survey course this class will examine themes and issues surrounding war. Along the way, we will examine several historical and contemporary cases of armed conflict, including the Peloponnesian War, the two World Wars, conflicts in the Balkans, Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. Course Objectives This is an upper level Politics and Government elective as well as an elective in the International Studies "Global Security" track. Students should enter the course possessing a basic background in the logic of international politics as well as knowledge of contemporary world affairs. By the end of the course students should hold a command over the history of major wars during the 20th century as well as more recent regional conflicts emerging after the end of the Cold War. In addition, students will be expected to be able to evaluate and apply broader theories and explanations of war to these conflicts. Finally, students will engage in independent research in order to delve more deeply into at least one of these conflicts.

2 As a writing intensive (W) course, students will practice and become more effective in writing clearly and in the social science tradition. We will practice writing often and in many forms. We will also work on peer editing and revising work. Requirements All students are expected to keep up with reading assignments and should come to class prepared. Four books and one case study are required in this class and are available for purchase in the University Bookstore. They are: Joseph Nye and David Welch, Understanding International Conflict: An Introduction to Theory and History, 8th ed. Pearson, Jim Frederick, Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death. Crown, 2010 Jason K. Stearns, Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War in Africa. Public Affairs, 2011 Ishmael Beah, Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. FS&G, 2008 Steve Lamy, "The Dutch in Srebrenica," Pew Case Study In addition to these readings, several readings are available on Blackboard in PDF format Written Requirements and Grading This is a "W" or writing-intensive course. As such there will be a considerable amount of writing during the semester. In addition, there is a take-home final exam. Students will be evaluated in the following manner: Assignment Due Date Weight Short Paper 9/27 15% Short Paper 12/11 15% Written Assignments % Research Paper % Take-home Final Exam 12/17 20% Participation %

3 Note: All work is due the day of class. Extensions are only given when students have a valid reason and are never given retroactively. Late work will be penalized 1/3 of one letter grade per day. After 10 days a grade of zero will be recorded. It is extremely difficult to pass the course with any grade of zero. Also note that students are expected to come to class and participate regularly. Repeated unexcused absences will lead students to be dropped from the course.. Electronics Policy I know you all view yourselves as multi-taskers, delicately balancing the intake of various forms of information from multiple sources. Most of these sources, of course, are electronic in nature. I, too, like my electronic toys and in the past I have been fairly open and flexible regarding phones, laptops, etc.. The situation, however, has gotten increasingly out of hand. I find students using laptops or texting on phones to be not only non-engaged, but also distracting other students around them. It also distracts me. Therefore I need to enforce a policy that prohibits personal electronics in class. Students are not to use cell phones, laptops, or music players in class. Students observed using these items will upon first offense receive a participation grade of zero for the day, the second offense will bring their semester participation grade down one full letter grade, the third offense will result in them being dropped from the class. Schedule Date Assignment 9/6 Introduction: No Reading 9/11 War in our World Themner and Wallensteen, Armed Conflicts, , Journal of Peace Research 49: 4, Goldstein, Winning the War on War, pp Video: War Letters Rationalist vs. Instinctual Approaches 9/13 Karl von Clausewitz, On the Nature of War Thomas Schelling, "The Diplomacy of Violence" Martin Van Creveld, "The Art of War and Military Thoughts" 9/18 Konrad Lorenz, "On Aggression" Dave Grossman, On Killing, pp. 1-16, /20 Realism Theoretical Contributions

4 Nye and Welch, Understanding International Conflicts, pp. 1-20; Waltz, The Origins of War in Neorealist Theory 9/25 Challenges to Realism Nye and Welch, pp Carol Cohn, "Sex and Death in the Rational World of Defense Intellectuals" 9/27 The Human Factor and War Nye and Welch, Holsti, Theories of Crisis Decision-making Logeval, "Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam," Presidential Studies Quarterly Short Paper #1 Due 10/2 Continuity and Change Kaldor, New and Old Wars, ch. 1 Ned Lebow, The Past and Future of War, International Relations 24:3, pp Goldstein, Winning the War on War, ch /4 Regime Type and War Spencer Weart, Never at War, ch. 1 Plotz, Greens Peace Film, Wag the Dog 10/9 Film, Wag the Dog Geis, et al., "From Democratic Peace to Democratic War?" Peace Studies 19:2 (2007), /11 Weapons and War Nye and Welch, pp Waltz, Nuclear Weapons: More May be Better Film, Lord of War 10/16 Lord of War, conclusion Chaim Kaufmann, "Why Nuclear Proliferation is Getting Easier," Peace Review 18:3 (2006), Updates on Iran 10/18 Nationalism and Post Cold-War Conflict Barbara Ehrenreich, Blood Rites, ch. 13 Kaldor, New and Old Wars, ch. 4 10/23 Ruth Seifert, "War and Rape," Women's International League for Peace

5 10/25 Humanitarian Intervention Nye and Welch, David Gibbs, "Why do We Intervene?" International Politics 37:1, March /30 Case Study: Steve Lamy, "The Dutch in Srebrenica" 60 Minutes, The Dutch in Srebrenica Research Paper Draft Due 11/1 Resources, Ethnicity and War Klare, Resource Wars, excerpts Stearns, Dancing in the Glory of Monsters, Part 1 11/6 Stearns, Part 2 and 3 11/8 Stearns Part 4 11/13 Modern War Up Close Frederick, Black Hearts, Part 1 11/15 Frederick, Part 2 11/20 Frontline: The Wounded Platoon New York Times, West Point is Divided on a War Doctrine s Fate 11/22 Thanksgiving: No Class 11/27 Terrorism: A New Form of War? Jurgensmeyer, Terror in the Mind of God, excerpts Nye and Welch, pp Final Research Paper Due 11/29 War and Profit Daniel Bergner, "The Other Army," New York Times Magazine 12/4 Children and War Ismael Beah, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, pp /6 Beah, remainder 12/11 Technology and Warfare Jane Mayer, The Predator War, The New Yorker Short Paper #2 Due 12/13 Course Wrap-up Reading TBA

6 12/17 Final Exam Paper Due

GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY POL 231 Fall, 2013 University of Hartford T/R: 3:30-4:45 Michael Clancy Office: H 123B clancy@hartford.edu Hours: T/R 2-3/by 860-768-4284 appt. Introduction This course provides