This course starts on Sunday 1st June and lasts for 5 weeks. It is delivered by academics from Princeton University. It will consist of lecture videos, activities and various reading assignments. Students will also be encouraged to participate in discussion forums.
The Paradox of War teaches us to understand that war is not only a normal part of human existence, but is arguably one of the most important factors in making us who we are. Through this course, students will come to appreciate that war is both a natural expression of common human emotions and interactions. That war is, paradoxically, an expression of our basest animal nature and the exemplar of our most vaunted and valued civilized virtues. Students will learn some basic military history and sociology in this course as a lens for the more important purpose of seeing the broader social themes and issues related to war. So, for example, the discussion of war and gender will start students thinking about how expectations of masculinity are created and our discussion of nationalism will make clear how easy us-them dichotomies can be established and used. At the end of the course, students will start to see war everywhere and come to appreciate how much it defines our life.
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