Descriptif

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).

Pré-requis souhaités

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

Examens

Le nombre de crédits ECTS et les modalités d’évaluation sont susceptibles d’être différents pour les étudiants en programmes d’échange à crédits.

Bibliographie indicative

• 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.