PSCI 3720 - Political Violence: War, Revolution, and Terrorism

Goals: To examine the theory and practice of various types of political violence and their transforming impact on state, society, and the world. To understand what factors drive people to revolt and the relationship between power and violence. To consider the impact of the state’s reaction to political violence.

Content: The causes of political violence; patterns of violent activity; issues of political symbolism, coercion, and legitimacy; state and people’s strategies for dealing with political violence (e.g., revolution and counterrevolution; terrorism and counterterrorism); analyses of global terrorism in the 21st century.

Taught: Alternate years.

Prerequisite: PSCI 1430 is recommended.

Credits: 4