Human Behavior in War

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Juris Doctor

War is fundamentally a clash of opposing human wills. This is true of conventional war, insurgency, nuclear war, and all other types of armed conflict. Understanding human behavior is central to understanding war. Many explanations of war focus on materiel: Who has the most tanks, the better planes, the most efficient logistics? Accepting the important role of materiel in war, this course explores human motivation, decisionmaking, and culture and their central roles in the nature and outcomes of armed conflict. Why do people choose to fight, to keep fighting, or to quit? Why do civilians pick up weapons to join insurgent movements? We begin the course by establishing a common understanding of human behavior, with readings and discussions focused on agentic choice and cultural influences on decisionmaking. The second part of the course focuses on historic examples from different types of conventional and irregular conflicts. Why did people choose to fight in World War I? In Vietnam? In Afghanistan and Iraq? If they wavered or quit, how did they reach that decision? Lastly, we will explore various ways of assessing human behavior in war through practical exercises and tabletop wargaming.