This is the first course of Specialisation 7: Conflict, violence, and security (English track International Relations).
 

This course examines the history and sociology of political violence. It clarifies what constitutes political violence, and also demonstrates that politics is not a timeless, universal phenomenon, but rather a changeable one that is determined by culture. In this course, we examine forms and developments of political violence, and offer an overview of the most important recent ideas on the subject.

The objective of the course is to develop advanced knowledge and understanding of various forms and aspects of political violence in relation to processes of state formation. To this end, phenomena such as wars, civil wars, revolts and revolutions will be analysed, along with the associated standpoints. Using a variety of case studies, we will try to understand how states and societies produce violence, how violence transforms societies and states and which attempts are made by states to rein in violence against themselves and society.