GOVT318

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GOVT318

Seminar on the Causes of War GOVT318 SP

Next Offered in 9798 SP

What causes war? How can we understand the patterns and processes which underlie international conflict? This seminar concentrates on various approaches to untangling all of the potential causal factors operating at various levels, from the balance of power to the psychology of individual decision-makers. We pay special attention to social scientific methods, such as game theory and statistical approaches to analyzing questions of war and peace. We consider the strengths and weaknesses of these models for understanding deterrence, arms races, war, and cooperation among nations. We also examine basic issues of social science, such as measurement of political phenomena, hypothesis testing, and causal explanation. No special mathematical or statistical experience needed.

MAJOR READINGS

Robert Axelrod, 1984. THE EVOLUTION OF
COOPERATION, Basic Books
Greg Cashman, 1993. WHAT CAUSES WAR? Lexington
Claudio Cioffi-Revilla, 1990. THE SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT OF
INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT: HANDBOOK OF DATASETS ON CRISES AND
WARS 1495-1988 AD. Lynne Rienner
Avinash Dixit and Barry Nalebuff, 1991, THINKING
STRATEGICALLY, Norton
Janes Buttolph Johnson, and Richard A. Joslyn. 1994.
POLITICAL SCIENCE RESREARCH METHODS, 3RD ED. CQ Press
(Hereafter as J&J).
Richard Ned Lebow, 1981. BETWEEN PEACE AND WAR, Johns
Hopkins
John A. Vasquez and Marie T. Henehan, 1992. THE SCIENTIFIC
STUDY OF PEACE AND WAR: A TEXT READER, Lexington. (Hereafter
as V&H).

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Data Measuring Paper (3-5 pp.) Simulation Evaluation Paper (4-8 pp.) Research Paper (15-20 pp.). Several assigned learning exercises.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS GOVT

Prerequisites: None

Last Updated on MAR-10-1997

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