(file last updated: [8/10/1998 - 15:27:7])
Since the end of World WarII, peace and conflict studies has emerged as an interdisciplinaryarea of inquiry drawing on social science, the humanities, thecreative arts, and science in efforts to understand reasons forwar and possible ways of resolving conflicts without resortingto violence. In the last few years, for many people the primaryfocus of inquiry is shifting from the Cold War and the nuclearthreat to conflict resolution in small and large contexts. TheBrandeis program reflects this tendency.
This is a time to examine themany meanings of "security," to investigate the natureof power and political participation and to develop ideas andways of addressing conflicts that honor the integrity of all partiesinvolved. This is a time, in other words, to learn alternativesto violence.
Students who wish to take peaceand conflict studies as a program in addition to their fieldsof concentration can construct an individually tailored programin consultation with program advisors on the Peace and ConflictStudies Committee.
Gordon Fellman, Chair
(Sociology)
Seyom Brown
(Politics)
Reuven Kimelman
(Near Eastern and Judaic Studies)
Robert Lange
(Physics)
Richard Parmentier
(Anthropology)
John Schrecker
(History)
Silvan Schweber
(Physics)
Maurice Stein
(Sociology)
Dessima Williams
(Sociology)
A.The student must complete a minimum of six courses, at least onefrom each of the five groupings listed below.
B.One of the courses must be POL 161b (Causes and Prevention ofWar), or SOC 119a (War and Possibilities of Peace).
C.Courses must be chosen from at least two different departments.
D.Students must attend a noncredit monthly colloquium of the Peaceand Conflict Studies Program.
Each PAX student must takeone of the following two courses.
POL 161b Causes and Preventionof War
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Insights from world history,the social sciences, and political philosophy about the causesand prevention of war. Includes an examination of current conflictcontrol issues, including controversies over the role of the UnitedNations. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Brown
SOC 119a War and Possibilitiesof Peace
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Reviews consequences of militarismfor American society and issues of global interdependence, focusingon political-economic, feminist, and social psychological matters;national security, nonviolence, and international relations; andecofeminist and environmental issues. Emphasizes the possibilityof a major "paradigm shift." Usually offered every year.
Mr. Fellman
Elective Courses
The following courses approvedfor the program are not all given in any one year, so the CourseSchedule for each semester should be consulted. PAX programstudents must take at least one course in each of the five groups.
Violence and War
War and the American Imagination
Violence in American Life
Fascism East and West
World War II
War in Vietnam
The Politics of Revolution:State Violence and Popular Insurgency in the Third World
Causes and Prevention of War
War and Possibilities of Peace
The Spanish Civil War
Explaining Conflict: GlobalPolitical and Economic Dimensions
Economy and Society in Africa
Political Economy of the ThirdWorld
Business in the Global Economy
Trade Unions, Collective Bargaining,and Public Policy
Introduction to the Economicsof Development
Introduction to East AsianCivilization
The Arab-Israeli Conflict
Introduction to InternationalRelations
Politics of Africa
Latin American Politics I
Latin American Politics II
Seminar: The Modern ChineseRevolution
Seminar: Nationalism and Development
Seminar: Human Rights and InternationalRelations
Introduction to InternationalPolitical Economy
Seminar: International Politicsof the Pacific
Sociology of the Israeli-PalestinianConfrontation
Society, State, and Power:The Problem of Democracy
Explaining Conflict: ResourceDimensions
Economics of Third World Hunger
Environmental Issues
Human Reproduction, PopulationExplosion, Global Consequences
Ecology
The Planet as an Organism:Gaia Theory and the Human Prospect
Environmental Economics
Water: Planning for the Future
Science and Development
Seminar: Politics and Hunger
Nature and Technology
Explaining Conflict: Socialand Cultural Dimensions
Comparative Race and EthnicRelations
Language, Ethnicity, and Nationalism
Topics in New World Studies:The Empire Writes Back
Sex Discrimination and theLaw
Ethics and the Jewish PoliticalTradition
Human Rights
Global Apartheid and GlobalSocial Movements
Social Class and Social Change
Modern Capitalism: Societyand Economy
Conflict Management andPeace-building
International Law, Organizations,and Conflict Resolution
Conflict Analysis and Intervention
Social and Political Philosophy:Democracy and Disobedience
Seminar: Managing Ethnic Conflict
Social Psychology of ConsciousnessI
Sociology of Empowerment
Group Solidarity
Additional courses from variousdepartments may be added by petition to the PAX Steering Committee.Students should watch for special announcements.