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Complexity, Security and War
Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:33:35
Abstract
Wars and conflicts show a particular complexity, which is difficult to untangle. In this lecture series presenters with different backgrounds will give talks in order to describe and solve the complexity of current and past conflicts. In subsequent seminar sessions, students will furthermore read and discuss texts related to the topics of complexity, security and war.
Objective
The aim of this course is to learn about ongoing research topics in complexity, security and war. Students will reflect on the different types of arguments and ideas and their historical, social, political, and ethical contexts. They learn to understand the descriptive and critical aspect of texts in regard to the topic of complexity, security and war.
Content
In this course we will have many different experts speaking on different topics: The nature of war, the laws of nature; War and the Anthropocene, i.e. the destruction of nature; Intelligence work by Authoritarian regimes; the complexity of civil wars; cyberwarfare etc. Clausewitz was already confronted with the question, if the phenomenon of war has laws and principles, or if it is mere chaos, not describable by theory or other models. We will read parts of Clausewitz' thoughts on war, so that we will be able to discuss the following questions: Is war a natural or a political-social phenomenon? Does only nature have laws or do also social and political phenomena such as war, have such laws? Is war simply too complex to find its laws? Is a proper theory that allows accurate prediction not possible to obtain? Are, indeed, the laws of war changing the nature of war? Has war always been the same? Students will thus be confronted with the question what makes science scientific, what prediction is and if it exists in war, what laws are, that is, natural or artificial? In this course, we dwell into the question how the Eastern front in WWI was connected not just to military conflict, but also how destruction of the environment, ambitious technological projects (such as the building of huge dams) and the control of natural reservoirs were part of military and political strategies. The course sheds light on the current debate about the Anthropocene and how technology, nature and conflict/war are related to one another. How are humans leaving a footprint behind, when they wage war? How are technology, war and nature connected? Is the progress of technology a consequentially good thing, or hasn't it also negative effects on societies and nature? Students from MINT will be asked to reflect on their own studies and future work as engineers for example. In this course we will talk about the history of the KGB, today known as FSB. We will learn about its organizational structure, thereby it will become evident that the FSB, amongst others, gathers its own information-data on citizens, has its own scientific research laboratories (in chemistry for example) and cyber unit. All these units can be used to coerce power on other actors. Chemistry can be used as poison, cyber units can operate in information warfare such as hacking, etc. Students will thus learn how science and engineering is nowadays used by intelligence services in authoritarian regimes. What modern technologies are used as "weapons", what it means to operate in the so-called "grey zone" of hybrid warfare. What does it mean socially and ethically, if an intelligence service such as the FSB is conducting its own research? In this course, we will also shed light on the region of the Middle East, especially the ethnic group (Volksgruppe) of the Kurds. One of the many problems of that region is the different ethnic groups and confessions. In other words: We will talk about the complex web of social, political, ethnic, religious aspects in that region, that lead to a seemingly non-stopping war and conflict. Students will learn that social, political and religious systems can be extremely complex and how that complexity can be tackled by political science. This session will also allow to discuss complexity or complex systems in general. What characterizes a complex system? Can complexity be reduced, etc.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , MSC
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 30
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise |
Complexity, Security and War
Lecture: Tuesday 18-20
Exercise: Wednesday 10-12
|
|
28 h semesterly |
Offered In
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Wissenschaft im Kontext (Science in Perspective) (In Kursen aus dem Programm “Wissenschaft im Kontext” lernen Studierende, die MINT Fächer der ETH aus der Perspektive der Geistes-, Sozial- und Staatswissenschaften zu reflektieren. Nur die in diesem Abschnitt aufgelisteten Fächer können als "Wissenschaft im Kontext" angerechnet werden.)
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Typ A: Förderung allgemeiner Reflexionskompetenz (WiK-Kurse werden für Bachelorstudierende nach dem ersten Studienjahr sowie für alle Masterstudierende und Doktorierende empfohlen. Alle WiK-Kurse sind in Typ A gelistet. Bei den unter Typ B aufgeführten Kursen handelt es sich lediglich um Belegungsempfehlungen für bestimmte Departemente.)
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