Time Schedule:
Daniel Chirot
SIS 498
Seattle Campus
Reading and discussion of selected works of major importance in interdisciplinary international studies. Restricted to majors in International Studies.
Class description
Genocide: The Anthropology, History, and Politics of Mass Political Murder and Ways of Preventing It. Why do genocides take place? What happened in some of the important cases of genocidal killing in the 20th century? What can be done to lessen the probability of future episodes of mass slaughter for political reasons? How does what is going on in Darfur related to past genocides? Is there any relationship between the wave of suicide bombings, including what happened on 9/11 2001, and genocidal behavior in the past?
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Students will read books and articles about episodes of mass political murder. They will present some oral reports about the reading, but the instructor will also provide some lectures. Some class periods will be devoted entirely to general discussion. The lectures will take up 40% of the class periods, oral reports by students 20%, and general discussion 40%.
Recommended preparation
This is a morally painful subject. Come prepared to read, look, think, write, and discuss!
Class assignments and grading
No late papers and reports accepted. There are five books to read, one of which is a collection of articles. Students will write five papers and prepare at least one oral report. No exam.
Students will be graded on their papers, on their presentations, and on the quality of their participation during discussion.
