GOVT285 - War, Technology and Society

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Academic Year 2005/2006

War, Technology and Society
GOVT 285 SP

Social existence involves both cooperation and conflict, and social conflict often spills over into physical violence. But while most societies condemn physical violence between individuals, they condone and encourage collectively organized violence in the form of warfare. No modern society has not taken part in warfare, so an understanding of war is clearly essential to any understanding of human existence. This course will examine war as a social, political and historical phenomenon. We will look at the way in which wars have led to the consolidation of political power and the acceleration of social change. We will focus in particular on the role played by technology in the interaction between war and society. Our examples will include ancient Greece, medieval Japan, the rise of the modern European states, through to World War II, Vietnam, and Iraq.

MAJOR READINGS

John Ellis, THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE MACHINE GUN
John Keegan, THE FACE OF BATTLE
Barbara Ehrenreich, BLOOD RITES
Robert O'Connell, ARMS AND MAN

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three short papers, term paper and midterm.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Any student wishing to take this class must send an email to prutland@wesleyan.edu explaining why they are interested in this topic; what particular features of warfare they are most interested in; and how they see this course relating to other courses they have taken at Wesleyan.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Rutland,Peter

Times: .M.W... 01:10PM-02:30PM; Location: PAC422;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 25)

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Writing

Permission: Permission of Instructor Required
POI forms will be distributed by the instructor during the browsing period of pre-registration and must be submitted to the Registrar's office prior to the on-line registration appointment

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006