This course offers an introduction to political violence in domestic and international politics. The course covers explanations of interstate wars, theories of civil and ethnic wars and regional conflict. Other topics include new threats, including transnational terrorist networks and other non-state actors, and the relationship between conflict and nation-building and democratization processes.

The seminar offers an in-depth exploration of cutting-edge peace and security research. The course is structured around key themes and current developments in the field. It combines theoretical foundations with practical case studies as well as exercises and presentations, aiming to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct rigorous research in peace and security studies.