SOC802 – Issues in War and Peace Fall 2010
Upper level liberal course
Section 021
Wednesday 11:10–14:00 (ENG 101)
[PLEASE NOTE CHANGES HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES]
Instructor: Peter Wronski
Office: JOR329
Office hours:
Office hours: Tuesday 12:00-1:00PM; Wednesday 2:00–3:00 PM; Friday 3:00-4:00PM
Phone: 416-979-5000 (ex. 4197)
Email: pwronsky@ryerson.ca (BEST WAY TO CONTACT)
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION: This is an introduction to theories and contemporary issues in the study of war and peace, coupled with forays into the past, as needed. Its goal is to help students develop an understanding of what war is, what causes it, what its effects on society are, and whether it could be overcome.
COURSE INTRODUCTION: This is an upper level liberal course – an interdisciplinary introduction to the study of war and peace – cutting across sociology, political science, anthropology, history and social psychology. We concentrate on the issues of war and peace today, with forays into the past when needed. Our goal is to reach an understanding of what war is and what causes it, what its effects on society are, and whether it is inevitable.
REQUIRED READINGS: A reader, titled SOC802 Issues in War and Peace and bearing instructor’s name, available at Ryerson Bookstore.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION:
|
REQUIREMENT |
DESCRIPTION |
WORTH |
LENGTH |
DATE |
|
TERM TEST |
Essay questions |
30% |
60 minutes |
27 October |
|
ESSAY |
Take-home essay |
30% |
ca 2,000 words |
10 November |
|
FINAL EXAM |
Essay questions |
40% |
120 minutes |
15 December |
TERM TEST: This test consists of essay questions only; is worth 30 percent of the final mark; written during the two-hour class; and 90 minutes long. It covers readings 1 to 5 and corresponding lectures. NOTE: The test is written with open readers and lecture notes. Students missing the test for legitimate reasons should request a make-up as soon as they realize they will not attend. Make-up test is of the same length and consists of essay questions only. Test grades will be available in class or during office hours – not in any other form – two weeks after submission.
TAKE-HOME ESSAY: Students are expected to write a take-home essay on one of the questions provided by the professor early in the course. This essay is worth 30 percent of the final grade, and should be based on at least four texts from the course readers and at least one additional academically justifiable source. The required length is 1,900-2,100 words; font 12; spacing 2; margins 1; page numbering; and bibliography. Text beyond 2,100 words will not be graded. Late essays without legitimate justification will be graded 5 percent lower for each day of delay (weekends included), and those received after 30 November will be graded with 0. Essays are to be handed to the professor in person, in class or during the office hours – excepting extraordinary justifiable circumstances. In such cases, essays should be deposited in the Sociology Department drop-box (Jorgenson Hall, third floor). Essay grades will be available in class or during office hours – not not in any other form – three weeks after submission.
FINAL EXAM: This exam consists of essay questions only; it is worth 40 percent of the final mark; written during the final examination period; and 120 minutes long. The exam will be primarily based on lectures and readings beginning with Week 4 Oct 4 – 6: Clash of Civilizations: The Huntington Hypothesis but you may refer to any of the readings or lecturews if relevant. NOTE: The final exam is written with open readers and lecture notes, like the term test.
SYLLABUS:
|
IN THE WEEK OF |
CLASS TOPIC |
AUTHORS |
REMINDERS |
|
6 September |
Course Introduction |
||
|
13 September |
1. What and Whence is War? |
Clausewitz, Luard, Einstein, Freud, Lorenz, Ardrey, Bakunin, Mead |
|
|
20 September |
2. Sex, Gender and War |
Moore/Gillette, Fukuyama, Creveld, Ashley, Stack-O’Connor, Tickner |
Essay questions |
|
27 September |
3. Clash of Civilizations |
Huntington, Barber, Ajami, Ross, Ali |
|
|
4 October |
4. Pacifists and Warriors |
Kant, Tolstoy, Gandhi, Nietzsche, Mussolini, Hitler |
|
|
11 October |
5. Terrorists and Freedom Fighters |
G.W. Bush, White, Carr, Ross, Chomsky, Hoffman, Townshend |
Term test review |
|
27 October |
TERM TEST ON 27 OCTOBER |
Readings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and lectures |
TERM TEST |
|
25 October |
6. Pax Americana |
G. Bush, G.W. Bush, Kagan, Ignatieff, Blum, McNally |
|
|
1 November |
7. Humanitarian Interventionism |
Gow, Axworthy, Graham, Clark, Bain, Roszak |
|
|
8 November |
8. Israel, Palestine and the United States |
Eikmeier, Stoessinger, Friedman, Said, Mearsheimer/Walt, Evan |
Essay due |
|
15 November |
9. Iraq Wars |
Hussein, Kean, Rubin, Pitt/Ritter, Al-Azmeh, Chibber, Obama |
|
|
22 November |
10. Yugoslav Wars |
Ambrozic, New Republic, Brzezinski, Layne, Parenti, Bandow |
|
|
29 November |
11. Afghanistan Wars |
Roy, Kean, Obama, Laxer, Warnock, Preston |
Final exam review |
|
15 DECEMBER |
Readings 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and lectures |
FINAL EXAM |
☞ NOTE: Fall term undergraduate examination period includes Saturdays, December 11 and December 18.
IMPORTANT WEBSITES, NOTICES AND REGULATIONS STUDENTS SHOULD BE COGNIZANT OF:
☞ This course uses Blackboard for basic information – such as the course and lecture outlines,,or take-home essay questions – not for full lecture notes or on-line consultations
☞ This course does not use turnitin.com
☞ Returning grades for the term test and essay assignment: 2-3 weeks – in class or during office hours, not by
e-mail or Blackboard
☞ Regrading/recalculation: must be requested from the instructor in writing – within 10 working days of receipt
☞ Final Grades: Professors are not allowed to post or distribute final grades in any form
☞ Faculty Course Surveys: Surveys will be administered on-line in November
☞ University E-mail Policy: Students must use their Ryerson email accounts only
☞ Ryerson Medical Certificate: http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/medical.pdf
☞ Ryerson Library workshops: www.ryerson.ca/library/info/workshops.html
☞ Writing Centre: http://www.ryerson.ca/writingcentre/
☞ English Language Support: www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/els
☞ Ryerson Student Code of Academic Conduct: www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf
☞ Ryerson Research Ethics Board: http://www.ryerson.ca/about/vpresearch/reb.html
☞ Academic Consideration (appeals; religious observance): www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies
☞ Ryerson Access Centre: http://www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/accesscentre/
☞ Plagiarism and how to avoid it: http://www.ryerson.ca/ai/students/studentcheating.html
☞ Students in some programs cannot take certain lower and upper level liberal studies courses for liberal studies credit due to their proximity to the professional courses: http://www.ryerson.ca/calendar/2009-2010/pg1337.html