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Civil Wars and Insurgencies - PICX838

This unit examines why civil wars and insurgencies begin, how they are fought, and how they end. Since 1945, internal wars have been far more common than interstate wars. Indeed, while some contend that interstate wars are becoming obsolete, no such proposition could be contemplated for civil wars and insurgencies. In addition to being frequent, internal wars also cause the overwhelming majority of the world’s violence related deaths, famines, refugee moments as well as drug production and transnational crime. This unit is divided into three sections. First, the unit explores why civil wars and insurgencies begin. Next, it discusses their course, nature, and how they are fought. In this section, several classic texts are surveyed, including Mao Tse-Tung and Che Guevara. Finally, how civil wars end will be discussed. By the conclusion of this unit, students will have an advanced understanding of the overall dynamics of civil wars.

All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au

When Offered:

S1 OUA - Session 1, offered through Open Universities Australia

Staff Contact(s): Dr Adam Lockyer
Assessed As: Graded
Offered By:

Department of Security Studies and Criminology

Faculty of Arts

Course structures, including unit offerings, are subject to change.
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