This course examines the seemingly ineradicable phenomenon of war and conflict through studying global wars and the far more prevalent local conflicts. We explore a range of questions including: What is war? Why do nations and peoples resort to conflict? Can conflict be good? Who are insurgents? What is terrorism? How do nations and individuals remember war? Is future war inevitable? Drawing on the insight of a range of disciplines — political science, strategic studies, international relations, anthropology, history, law, gender studies and psychology — the course analyses the causes of war and conflict; the nature of security and strategic decision-making; the drivers of international and sub-national conflicts; the use of technologies and tactics; and the representation of war and in public memory. The regional orientation of this course is the Asia-Pacific region but case studies can be drawn more widely.

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: 

1. Analyse, synthesize and critique a range of disciplinary explanations and theories of the causes of war and conflict
2. Apply theoretical understandings of war and conflict to selected case studies of war and conflict, global and civil/local.
3. Undertake research from a range of sources.
4. Verbally articulate ideas about war and conflict.

1.       Seminar participation 10%

2.       Critical essay 2000 words: 30%

3.       Research essay 4000 words: 60 %

Standard SDSC week-long intensive delivery. Based in Canberra on ANU campus. Morning and Afternoon teaching sessions for 5 days. Assessment will be spread throughout the teaching period with the final piece of assessment being the examination in the official ANU examination period.

Incompatability ASIA1021

None

Wattle