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GOVT285

War, Technology and Society
GOVT285 SP

SectionClass Size*AvailableTimesPOIPrereq
1 35 0 Times: .T.T... 2:40PM-4:00PM;NoNo

*The number of spaces listed as available is based on class seats open for the Blue Add phase of registration. Some seats may be taken in previous phases while others may be held out for subsequent phases of registration. (Last Updated on Tue Aug 10 05:00:21 EDT 1999 )

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 consolidaton 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, and the rise of the modern European states, through to World War II and Vietnam.

MAJOR READINGS

Brian Downing, THE MILITARY REVOLUTION AND
POLITICAL CHANGE
William H. McNeill, THE PURSUIT OF POWER
John Keegan, THE FACE OF WAR
John Keegan, A HISTORY OF WARFARE
Martin Van Crefeld, TECHNOLOGY AND WAR
plus photocopy package.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three short papers, term paper and final.

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 Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: None

Section 01
Rutland, P
Times: .T.T... 2:40PM- 4:00PM;
Grading Mode: A/F
Registration Preference (1 high to 6 low, 0=Excluded) Sr: 1, Jr: 2, So: 3, Fr: 0
Major Preference Given

Last Updated on MAR-22-1999




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