This class seeks to guide students in researching, organizing, writing, reviewing and rewriting an original research paper of publishable quality and length (approximately 25 pages long). Students will be encouraged to individually explore any issue relating to religion and conflict, broadly defined. They will also be expected to closely follow strict guidelines in terms of structure and formatting.
The secondary goal of this class is to discuss the relationship between religion and conflict. Lectures dedicated to the craft of research and writing will be interspersed with lectures about theoretical and empirical issues relating to religion and conflict worldwide. We will discuss theories in the social sciences, from psychology and sociology to anthropology and political science, that explore the intersection of religion and domestic or international conflict. We will examine explanations for fundamentalism and extremism; the role of religion in driving global, international and ethnic conflict; religion and martyrdom; religion in the military; the relationship between religion and science; the Just War tradition; and the contribution of religion to conflict resolution.
Subfield:International Relations