The Paradoxes of War

2019/2020

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

5

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:

Elective course

When:

4 year, 3 module

Instructor

Егоров Роман Вадимович

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course focuses on the nature of War, its social preconditions and mechanisms of the development. The Paradoxes of War teaches us to understand that war is not only a normal part of human existence, but is arguably one of the most important factors in making us who we are. Through this course the students will come to appreciate that war is both a natural expression of common human emotions and interactions and a constitutive part of how we cohere as groups. That is, war is paradoxically an expression of our basest animal nature and the exemplar of our most vaunted and valued civilized virtues. Students will learn some basic military history and sociology in this course as a lens for the more important purpose of seeing the broader social themes and issues related to war.

Learning Objectives

• The goal is learning of some basic military history and sociology and seeing the broader social themes and issues related to war.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Able to identify scientific subject
• Able to think critically and interpret the experience (personal and of other persons), relate to professional and social activities
• Student is capable of reporting the results of the information retrieval and analysis, academic or applied research she/he has conducted: - in various genres (including reviews, policy papers, reports and publications pertaining to socio-political subject matter); - and depending on the target audience.
• Student is capable of executing applied analysis of the political phenomena and political processes - by using political science methods - and in support of practical decision making process.

Course Contents

• Introduction
• The nature of war
• The Causes of War
• The Experience of War
• Making Warriors
• The War of Armies
• The Progress of Battle
• The War of Societies
• Social Aspects of War: Nation State and Nationalism
• Social Aspects of War: Democracy, Citizenship, and Social Equality
• The Rise of the Rest
• New Challenges
• Final Lecture
• Summary

Assessment Elements

• Online Course Assignments
  Assignments proposed by the MOOC
• Test
  The written exam is conducted during the session week
• Final Exam
  The written exam is conducted during the session week. The teacher may excuse the students from taking the final exam, which she / he must announce at the final seminar.

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (3 module)
  0.5 * Final Exam + 0.3 * Online Course Assignments + 0.2 * Test

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• The Oxford handbook of war / ed. by Julian Lindley-French . (2012). Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.359820859

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Thucydides, & Mynott, J. (2013). Thucydides : The War of the Peloponnesians and the Athenians. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=533811