This course is designed to examine conditions that either abate or exacerbate the chances of war in the international system. However, the class also seeks to understand the fundamental causes or drivers of war and conflict. To do so, we will also examine the historical and sociological patterns and trends in warfare. In essence, the goal is to understand the evolution of warfare over the ages, what factors have remained fairly constant in predicting conflicts and which new factors have been game changers in the way war is fought. To do so the class 2 identifies four distinct eras: 1) pre-Industrial Revolution, 2) Post-Industrial Revolution, 3) Cold War and 4) Post – Cold War periods.
Professor: Dr. Prashant Hosur Suhas