Presentation

The course combines two sub-disciplines of IR – Security Studies and Strategic Studies – in order to account for the causes of the international wars occurring in the contemporary international order. It also sheds light on the methods and modalities used to wage these wars and the political and normative environment within which they are embedded.

After having introduced theoretical and historical preliminaries, the course includes two parts : « War is Like Love - It Always Finds A Way » (part I) and « War is Like Football - At The End, the West Always Wins » (part II).

Recommended Prerequisite(s)

Students taking this class should have a thorough knowledge of international relations theories.

Form of assessment

The number of ECTS credits and the assessment methods are likely to be different for students in credit exchange programmes.

Bibliography

• Baylis J., Wirtz J. & Gray C. (eds.), Strategy in the Contemporary World : Introduction to Strategic Studies, Oxford, Oxford UP, 5th edition, 2015.
• Cashman G. & Robinson L., An Introduction to the Causes of War : Patterns of Interstate Conflict from World War I to Iraq, Lanham, Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
• Clausewitz C., On War (1816-1827).
• Diehl P. (ed.), War. Four Volume Set, London, Sage, 2005.
• Strachan H. & Scheipers S. (eds.), The Changing Character of War, Oxford, Oxford UP, 2011.