The Evolution of War
CHUM 303
Spring 2010
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
GOVT 303 |
| Certificates: International Relations |
While most societies condemn physical violence between individuals, they condone and encourage collectively organized violence in the form of warfare. War is obscene, yet all modern societies have engaged in warfare. 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, at the relationship between military service and the concept of citizenship. The course also examines the crucial role played by technology in the interaction between war and society. Films and novels will be examined to test to what extent these literary works accurately reflect, or obscure, the political, social, and technological logic driving the evolution of war. Our examples will include warfare in premodern society, the gunpowder revolution in early modern Europe and Japan, the American Civil War, colonial wars, World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and Iraq. |
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Essential Capabilities:
None |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS CHUM |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (GOVT)(GOVT-Comparativ)(GOVT-Intl.)(HRAD-MN) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Barbara Ehrenreich, BLOOD RITES
Robert O'Connell, ARMS AND MAN
John Keegan, THE FACE OF BATTLE
John Ellis, THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE MACHINE GUN
Sven Lindqvist, HISTORY OF BOMBING
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Examinations and Assignments:
Three reports and one research paper |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Students should send an email to the professor explaining why they are interested in the course, and what other relevant courses they have taken. |
| Instructor(s): Rutland,Peter Times: .M.W... 01:10PM-02:30PM; Location: PAC125; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 15 | Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 4 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 2 |
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