Violence, War and Terrorism

This subject is not offered in 2011.

Today, war is still a salient feature of international relations, while terrorism takes on ever more international character and scope. The subject will explore the philosophical - conceptual and moral - issues to do with violence, war, and terrorism. It will consider the concept of violence and the problem of its justification in a political context in general. The central part of the subject will examine the main approaches to war: realism, consequentialism, just war theory, and pacifism, and apply them to the "new wars"of the late twentieth and early twenty first century, which seem to be particularly resistant to moral and legal regulation. The subject will also discuss both the concept and the morality of terrorism, including state terrorism.

Students who successfully complete this subject will

• have developed an understanding of the fundamentals of philosophical argumentation and theory.
• be able to demonstrate a substantial knowledge of the area of Violence, War and Terrorism.
• understand the theoretical sources of the key concepts in this area of study.
• understand the application of these concepts to their professional field or study area.

A 5000-word research essay 100% (due at the end of semester).

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Students who fail to meet this hurdle requirement will be deemed ineligible to submit the final piece of assessment for this subject. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

C.A.J. Coady, Morality and Political Violence Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008

Igor Primoratz (ed.), Terrorism: The Philosophical Issues Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• have improved their ability to integrate abstract moral and conceptual considerations with relevant empirical data.
• have developed research and analysis skills to enable further study in the area of international justice at a higher academic level.