ANTH 34735 - Anthropology of War and Peace: A UK Perspective

Institution:

University of Notre Dame

Subject:

Anthropology

Description:

War, it would appear, is a relatively new invention. Research suggests that for 90% of human history (which extends back tens of thousands of years) there was virtually no war. Today, war is firmly entrenched in the world: one-third of the world's countries are currently experiencing some form of war, and two-thirds use human rights to control populations. At the same time, peace is critical to human advancement, social stability, and, some would argue, cultural creativity. This class will explore human's capacity for war and for peace. Anthropology provides a unique perspective on violence and conflict resolution as anthropologists often go to the frontlines to document the experience of war and peace-building firsthand. They collect stories of war and peace told by those directly involved, across cultural, ethnic, gender, and age differences - they interview soldiers and civilians, rogues and heroes, adults and children. The course will explore examples of the many forms of war in the world today, from tribal conflicts through guerrilla warfare and terrorism to conventional and nuclear war. It will also study societies without war, and populations with innovative ideas about peace. Questions about war and peace are really questions about the human condition, and the class will discuss such issues as what is the place of war and peace in human society; whether violence is inherent in human nature or learned; and what the future of war and peace is likely to be on our planet. We will investigate answers that range from generals to tribal elders; from arms smugglers to ND students. The United Kingdom provides the centre-point from which the global analysis of war and peace unfolds. We will explore contemporary events from Britain's approach to terrorism and the war in Iraq, to civil politics such as the UK/Northern Ireland conflicts, immigration tensions, and post-colonial relations in political "hot spots." These current realities will be set illuminated within larger historical understandings such as the rise of the state in UK (and Europe) and the political and economic legacies of the era(s) of global colonialism. The class will culminate with an exploration of the solutions the United Kingdom offers the new twenty-first-century forms of political violence.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nd.edu

Phone Number:

(574) 631-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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