Levy_International_Conflict_Syllabus_Spring2025.pdf
Why do countries go to war? Is it inevitable because of the structure of the international system, or are some countries and some leaders more likely to initiate conflicts? What tactics can help countries win these wars, and which tactics are counterproductive? This course will focus on conflicts between two states as well as conflicts in which states fight armed actors based outside of their borders. There will be two midterms, each consisting of a series of IDs and long-answer questions, and a final research paper which considers which theory we’ve read about best explains the outbreak or ending of a conflict of your choice. It is recommended that you take POL S 203 Introduction to International Relations prior to enrolling in this class.
Readings:
All readings are to be read before the day they are assigned. They are all available on Canvas. While many of the readings are quantitative in nature, a previous background in statistics is not required for the course. I expect you to consider the argument made, the kinds of data used, and the conclusions of each piece.
Assignments:
|
Assignment |
Percentage |
How it will be assessed |
Date |
|
Class Participation |
20 |
Participation in weekly discussion sections |
Throughout the semester |
|
Midterm 1 |
20 |
IDs + long answers |
May 5th |
|
Final Paper Proposal |
10 |
Case selection + 2 or more theories you are testing + initial list of 10 sources |
May 19th |
|
Midterm 2 |
20 |
IDs + long answers |
June 4th |
|
Final Paper |
30 |
10-12 pages |
June 11th |