Understanding Civil Wars: Internal Conflicts & International Responses

(Cross-listed as PJS 170). Since 1945, the vast majority of conflicts have been within states rather than between them. This course surveys competing theories about the causes, conduct, and conclusion of the dominant brand of conflict in the world today and examines how the international community deals with these enduring and often seemingly intractable conflicts. Topics examined include conflict prevention, conflict mediation, military intervention, peace implementation, peacekeeping and peace enforcement, and refugee crisis management. The course combines theories from international relations and conflict resolution with case studies of recent and ongoing conflicts.