Courses

In a world once believed to be progressively peaceful, recent conflicts like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and large-scale fighting in Gaza have revived pressing questions about the future of war. Is conventional warfare, where state actors engage in organized combat, making a return? And is the character of asymmetric war changing? This course explores modern warfare by first examining the history of conventional conflict, from the French Revolution to the Cold War, revealing how state power, industry, and technology have shaped the battlefield. We will then apply these historical insights to the current war in Ukraine, offering a fresh perspective on its complexities. What are the belligerents trying to achieve, and how? Next, we’ll turn to unconventional warfare—marked by guerrilla tactics, insurgencies, counterinsurgencies, and non-state actors—using key examples such as the conflicts in Kenya and Algeria, the Vietnam War, and the war against ISIS. The course will conclude with a focused study of Gaza, highlighting the enduring nature of asymmetric warfare and its possible outcomes. Students will leave the course with a deeper understanding of the changing face of war—and what the future may hold.