Civil Conflict in Africa and the Middle East

In this course we will examine the sources of civil conflict by investigating prominent cases of civil conflict and civil war in Africa and the Middle East, broadly defined. Major theories of political and ethnic conflict are introduced and applied to specific cases, including South Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Algeria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Students will have the opportunity to make arguments about the causes and solutions to violent conflict, as well as individually examine a case study of their choice in the region. (PSCI 0103) 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Comparative Politics)/