The Pursuit of Peace in 19th and 20th Centuries

Harvard FAS

There was a war or other violent conflict somewhere in the world in every single year of the 19th and 20th centuries. Some wars were short, others prolonged. Some were small in scope, others were global. Casualties of these wars ranged from tens of thousands to tens of millions. Perhaps because of the near-constancy of war, the pursuit of peace is likewise a consistent element of world history. What have the champions of peace sought? What did peace mean? Who was entitled to it? This course…