War Games

Why do wars happen? Social interactions often follow basic patterns whether the individuals in question are negotiating minor issues, like prices at a farmer’s market, or major issues, like the terms of settlement in war. We are familiar with many of these in the form of children’s games or games of strategy. In this course we will connect these games to broader non-cooperative interactions, particularly to wars between and within nations. While not a course on tactical behaviors, this course is an exploration of strategic behaviors (bargaining, bluffing, and learning) that lead nations into very costly conflicts. (International Relations)