POL 345 International Security

This course considers the conditions for war and peace between states. War is by definition a “rare event” in international relations, but its destructive nature has made it a subject of intense study and debate throughout history. Special attention is given to competing theories of the causes of war and peace, the relevance of individual, state-level, interstate and systemic variables, the lengthy debate over deterrence, alliances, the importance of discourse, and the meaning of emergent, asymmetric threats for the security of states. Prerequisite(s): POL 210 or permission of instructor. 3 hour(s).