Scott Wolford

WAR AND PEACE IN EAST ASIA: CHINA, JAPAN, TAIWAN

Prerequisites

Upper-division standing and 6 semester hours of lower-division coursework in government or Asian studies

Course description

This course uses cutting-edge political science research on the causes of war and peace to analyze recent, current, and future security issues in East Asia, with a particular focus on how events like World War II, the Korean War, and unipolarity shape current and potential military powers such as China, Japan, and Taiwan.

Grading policy

Students will be graded on three exams (60%), short writing assignments (25%), and a number of in-class quizzes (15%).

Texts

Keohane, Robert. 1984. After Hegemony Princeton University Press Stueck, William. 2004. Rethinking the Korean War Princeton University Press Paine, S.C.M. 2012. The Wars for Asia 1911-1949 Cambridge University Press

Prerequisites

 Graduate standing in government

Course description

Explores both the role and the causes of war in the international system, including its initiation, prosecution, and termination, as well as the effects of international institutions, system structure, and domestic politics on the conflict process.

Grading policy

Students will be graded on class participation (15%), two papers dedicated to summarizing and critiquing the week's readings (35%), and a final research paper (50%).

Texts

Powell, Robert. 1999. In the Shadow of Power Princeton University Press

Kydd, Andrew. 2005.Trust and Mistrust in International Relations Princeton University Press

Wagner, R. Harrison. 2007. War and the State University of Michigan Press

Chiozza, Giacomo, and Hein Goemans. 2011. Leaders and International Conflict Cambridge University Press

Braumoeller, Bear F. 2013. The Great Powers and the International System Cambridge University Press

Prerequisites

Upper-division standing and 6 semester hours of lower-divsion coursework in government  

Course Description

This course explores cutting-edge research on the political origins of war, adopting a scientific approach to argumentation and evidence.  

Grading Policy

Students will be graded on three exams (60%), short writing assignments (25%), and a small independent research project (15%).  

Texts

John Keegan. 2005. The Iraq War Vintage Books. Gen.

Wesley Clark. 2001. Waging Modern War PublicAffairs Press.

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in government  

Course description:

This course will help students develop the tools necessary to consume formal theory in academic work and to write their own formal theories. Heavy emphasis will be placed on logic and the construction of valid arguments.  

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on semi-weekly homework (30%), two exams (50%), and a final paper in which students identify a research question and specify, but need not solve, a game capable of answering it (20%).  

Texts:

Osborne, Martin J. 2004. An Introduction to Game Theory Oxford University Press.

Explores both the role and the causes of war in the international system, including its initiation, prosecution, and termination, as well as the effects of international institutions, system structure, and domestic politics on the conflict process.

Professor: Scott Wolford

See syllabus