War and Society

Warfare and state versus state conflict have helped to shape the course of human history. The Greek historian Thucydides in his classic history of the Peloponnesian Wars discusses the conflict between Athens and Sparta. He argues that states embark on war for one of three reasons: fear, honor, and/or interest. In this course we will examine the social, economic, political, and technological impact of warfare in a cross-cultural context.

Initially we will analyze the nature and course of warfare in the “primitive” or “preliterate” era in order to understand the social role of warfare in early civilization. We will also examine the intellectual foundations and theories of two influential military theorists, Sun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz. The former epitomizes the Oriental tradition of the “indirect approach” while the latter is the most cited military theorist in the Western world. We also will analyze Mao’s writings on the concept of “war in the shadows” or guerrilla warfare. In addition to the theoretical underpinnings of warfare, the course examines the United States, European, and Asian experience with warfare and compares and contrasts the use of state sanctioned force based on the strategic cultures of each area. Likewise, the influence of technology and technological change played an instrumental role in the nature of warfare from the armor and spears of the Greek hoplites to the advent of the nuclear bomb.

At the conclusion of the course, you will have an understanding of the way in which warfare has influenced social, cultural, political, and economic development on a global scale. The quality and depth of intellectual rigor that you bring into the classroom each day will determine the value that you receive from the course and the benefits that accrue to you today and in the future. I look forward to our journey together.