IS 425W - Theories of War and Peace

Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
Credit Hours: 3

This course provides cadets with an introduction to the scientific study of international conflict. Simply put, the course examines existing empirical evidence to answer the question “What do we know about war?” Cadets will begin by engaging the existing dominant theories of international conflict, broadly defined, and conclude in reviewing the relationship between different variables and conflict onset, including, but not limited to, relative power, democracy, rivalry, status, and dissatisfaction. Throughout the course, students will be required to think critically about existing approaches, generate their own ideas about the potential correlates of war, and relate how the scientifically generated empirical findings from the course have practical applicability to American foreign policy.