Politics of Insurgency, Terrorism and Civil War

This seminar introduces students the politics of internal conflict and violence, which is the dominant form of political conflict in the contemporary world. We will examine dynamics of internal conflict onset, intra-conflict period, and processes by which internal conflict may come to an end. We will also study strategies of international intervention, politics of non-state armed groups, as well as the peculiar terrorism and counterterrorism challenges faces by the US government in parts of Africa, Middle East, and South Asia. The course will introduce these topics through cutting edge scholarship. Note that the course has a major reading load and requires substantial participation in seminar discussion.