Paradoxes of War helps us understand war as a part of our human experience. It is also a necessary component of who we are. This course will help you to understand that war is both an expression of human emotions and interaction and also a fundamental part of our ability to cohere in groups. This is why war paradoxically is both an expression of the most primitive and precious civilized virtues and a manifestation of our worst animal nature. This course will teach you basic sociology and military history, as well as the important goal of understanding the larger social issues and themes related to war. You should not only learn about war but also use it to understand your daily social life. For example, our discussions on war and gender will help you think about masculinity and how to use it. Our discussion of nationalism, on the other hand, will show how easily aus-thema dichotomies are established and used. You will find readings to supplement the class, and I will assign activities that will allow you to use the theories from the course in your everyday observations. The course will help you to understand war and how it affects your daily life. The course does not include a certificate.
