|
Instructors: Prof. Dr. Max Schaub
Event type:
Seminar
Displayed in timetable as:
IR: Violence
Hours per week:
2
Credits:
6,0
Language of instruction:
English
Min. | Max. participants:
10 | 23
Comments/contents:
This course is about the use of violence in politics. What is the purpose of violence in politics? What different forms of violence are being used, and why? What are the short- and long-term consequences for the societies affected by violence? Which factors make violence more likely to occur? Why is violence typically perpetrated by men, and under what circumstances do women turn into fighters? Is the use of violence ever rational? The course will address these and related questions. The course literature will consist of a mix of theoretical and empirical texts. Apart from substantive questions, we will also address how violence can be studied. What data sources can we use to study violence, and how can we ask respondents about such a sensitive topic as their experience of victimization?
Learning objectives:
1. Understand the rationale behind the use of violence in the pursuit of political goals
2. Develop an overview of the various methods used to study the violence in politics
3. Hone presentation and writing skills
Didactic concept:
Each session centers around a theme that is covered by 1-2 text(s) that all students will have read. The core reading(s) will be supplemented by short student presentations on closely related topics (e.g. a case study or a text applying the same theory to another case) and brief lectures by the instructor. By means of brainstorming sessions, group and plenary discussions, and debates, we will develop a common understanding of the session’s theme.
Literature:
Fearon, James D. “Rationalist Explanations for War.” International Organization 49, no. 03 (June 1995): 379–414.
Kalyvas, Stathis N. The Logic of Violence in Civil War. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Schaftenaar, Susanne. “How (Wo)Men Rebel: Exploring the Effect of Gender Equality on Nonviolent and Armed Conflict Onset.” Journal of Peace Research 54, no. 6 (November 1, 2017): 762–76.
Vetlesen, Arne Johan. Evil and Human Agency: Understanding Collective Evildoing. Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Wood, Elisabeth Jean. “The Social Processes of Civil War: The Wartime Transformation of Social Networks.” Annual Review of Political Science 11, no. 1 (2008): 539–61.
Yanagizawa-Drott, David. “Propaganda and Conflict: Evidence from the Rwandan Genocide.” The Quarterly Journal of Economics 129, no. 4 (November 1, 2014): 1947–94.
(selection; full literature list will be provided on OpenOlat)
Additional examination information:
A) Course credits (ungraded):
1) Close reading of 1-2 core text(s) per session; 2) active participation in group discussions and other seminar activities; 3) 1 presentation of 10 min (single presenter) on one of the optional readings, or, alternatively, written summaries of 2 optional readings, uploaded the day before the lecture.
B) Module (partial) examination FSB WiSe 13/14 and WiSe 14/15:
Type of examination: usually term paper
Grading scheme: graded (RPO)
Length: 15 pages
Deadline: 30.09.2022
Place of submission: by e-mail to the lecturer
|
