This undergraduate course (POLS418, War Studies) provides an introduction to the study of war. We will discuss psychological and other theories of war, war and human nature, questions of strategy and tactics, laws of war, how wars start and how they end. We will also study war understood as an experience, how soldiers return to society, and how wars are commemorated.
Although the class is held in person, we will make extensive use of the web pages. You are expected to go through all material listed on these pages except the entries under “lecture notes.” All material is available for download online, and you are expected to comments on the readings. You are expected to contribute actively to our discussions both in-person and online. The final grade for the course will be based on in-class discussions (33%), online discussions (33%), and a final, 3000 word, paper.