POL 257 - Topics: Irregular Warfare & Nonviolent Resistance (1)

Irregular warfare – defined by the Pentagon as “a violent struggle among state and non-state actors for legitimacy and influence over the relevant population(s)” – constitutes the vast majority of armed conflict, yet recent research suggests that strategic nonviolence may be even more effective than irregular warfare in attaining political actors’ desires. This seminar will address the motivations and prospects for distinct methods of resistance to unwanted political leadership or occupation, as well as various approaches to counterinsurgency and control of movements, through theoretical readings, case studies, and simulation. (International Relations & Comparative Government)
(Social Science)