This course will familiarize students with some of the major theoretical issues in the study of international security, and some of the central challenges shaping current debates about security and the use of force. War and conflict have been central to international politics. The study of security investigates causes of war, strategies for avoiding conflict, and the impact of new technologies, actors, and ideas on calculations about the use of force.
The course has three segments: 1) an examination of key aspects and actors in the international system that affect international security and policy making, 2) evaluation of how traditional security issues continue to affect the international security arena, and 3) analysis of new and evolving issues affecting conflict and security in various parts of the world. The goal is twofold: to give students a solid grounding in current theoretical issues and security challenges in the international arena, and to encourage them to think about how an understanding of these issues can help them address existing security problems.