POLS 113. International Politics: War, Peace, and Security (IR)

This seminar will investigate in depth the issues of conflict, security, and the use of force in contemporary international politics. The course will begin by considering the changing meaning of “security” and by analyzing the major theoretical approaches including realism, liberalism, and constructivism. The course will then tackle some of the great puzzles of international security including the clash of civilizations hypothesis, the role of nuclear weapons, civil wars and intervention, terrorism, and human rights.
Social sciences.
2 credits.
Eligible for GLBL-Core
Fall 2026. Tierney.
Catalog chapter: Political Science
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/political-science

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