1 War and Peace in the International System: Democracy and Conflict Within and Between States GVPT 409D Professor Paul Huth Fall Term 2007 Morrill Hall 2102C Tu/Th 11-12:15 Office Hours: Tu 3:30-5:00 Tydings 2106 & by appointment Overview of Course In this course we will examine the general topic of democracy and war in the contemporary international system and its implications for US foreign policy. The course will be divided into three basic sections. In the first section we will focus on the question of whether democratic countries are better able to avoid becoming involved in international and civil wars as well as whether democratic countries are attractive targets for terrorist groups. Assigned readings will cover basic research on the so-called democratic peace along with cases studies, including US policy in going to war against Iraq in 2003. In the second section of the course our attention will turn to how democracies wage war against interstate adversaries, internal foes, and terrorist groups. Once again, basic research will first be covered on the conduct and outcome of wars and then case studies will be examined with a focus on the conduct of recent wars by the US. Some of the central questions addressed are whether democracies are more likely to win wars and are they less likely to attack civilian populations in pursuit of military victory. In the third and final section of the course we will examine the durability of peace in the aftermath of interstate and civil wars and peace-building efforts to promote democracy in post-war countries. The assigned readings will include a mix of basic research as well as case studies. My general goals for this course are twofold. First, I want to encourage students to think about current policy debates and events related to US foreign policy and war in a broader, more theoretical perspective. Related to this, I also want to show students how basic research can be drawn upon to better understand current wars. Second, I would like to help students (a) develop a better understanding of current US policy regarding wars and, (b) assess and compare US policy to more general patterns of state behavior in the international system. Given the size of the class, I will lecture for each meeting of the class but I will also regularly ask questions of students as an alternative way to present the material. I also encourage students to raise questions at any point during a lecture and I will try to reserve some time when possible to field questions. The content and focus of the lectures will2 vary over the course of semester. At times I will closely cover material from the assigned readings, but at other times I will present new material and treat the assigned readings as background to what I cover in the lecture. For each lecture I will post an outline of the material to be covered at the online location for my course at ELMS. I encourage students to printout a copy of the outline and bring it with them to class. The outlines should be posted generally about one hour before each lecture. Course Requirements There will be three in-class written exams and each exam equals one-third of the final grade. Each exam will cover material from one of the three main sections of the course syllabus. There is no comprehensive exam during the final exams period. The schedule for in-class exams is as follows: Exam 1: October 2 Exam 2: November 6 Exam 3: December 11 Assigned Readings A number of books have been ordered at the local bookstore for students who would like to purchase many of the books assigned for the class. All of the assigned readings from books, including text books that have been ordered, are available through the reserve system at the library. All of the assigned articles from journals can be accessed electronically through the library reserve system as well. The following books have been ordered: Jack Snyder, From Voting to Violence James Dobbins et al, The Beginner’s Guide to Nation-Building Paul Huth and Todd Allee, The Democratic Peace and Territorial Conflict in the Twentieth Century Robert Art and Louise Richardson eds., Democracy and Counterterrorism Martin Libicki et al, Exploring Terrorist Targeting Preferences Hamilton et al, State of the Struggle (note: this book was just ordered and therefore has not arrived yet)3 August 30: Introduction PART I: DEMOCRACY AND THE EMERGENCE OF VIOLENT CONFLICT A. Democracy and the Onset of International Crises and War September 4 & 6: Research on the Democratic Peace Huth and Allee, The Democratic Peace and Territorial Conflict in the 20th Century, chs.2, 4-5 Snyder and Mansfield, Electing to Fight, chs.2-3 September 11 & 13: Case Studies of International Disputes Involving Democracies Snyder and Mansfield, Electing to Fight, ch.8 Marr, The Modern History of Iraq, chs.9-10 B. Democracy and the Onset of Internal Conflict and Wars September 18: Democracy and Patterns of Internal Conflict Davenport, State Repression and the Domestic Democratic Peace, ch.4 Gurr, Minorities At Risk, ch.5 September 20: Democratization and Internal Conflict Snyder, From Voting to Violence, chs.1-2, 6 C. Democracy and Terrorist Threats September 25 & 27: Are Democracies a Target of Terrorism? Pape, Dying to Win, ch.4 and Appendix I Wade and Reiter, “Does Democracy Matter? Regime Type and Suicide Terrorism” Journal of Conflict Resolution 51,2 (2007):329-484 Libicki et al, Exploring Terrorist Targeting Preferences, chs.2-4 ***FIRST IN-CLASS EXAM: OCTOBER 2*** PART II: DEMOCRACIES AT WAR A. Democracies at War Internationally October 4 & 9: Do Democracies Wage War Differently? Reiter and Stam, Democracies at War, chs.2-3,7 Valentino et al, “Covenants Without the Sword” World Politics 58,3 (2006):339-77 October 11 & 16: Case Studies of Democracies At War Thomas, The Ethics of Destruction, ch.5 Kahl, “In the Crossfire or the Crosshairs?” International Security 32,1 (2007):7-46 B. Democracies at War Internally October 18, 23, & 25: Democratic Responses to Guerrilla Warfare and Domestic Terrorism Valentino et al, “Draining