IR theory has traditionally presumed that states are the main actor in the international system, particularly in the study of war. Although this notion is not entirely misguided, it applies only to a short historical time period. It was not before the beginning of the 19th century that violent non-state actors were increasingly delegitimized and pushed out of the business of waging wars. For the subsequent two hundred years, the state established its predominant role, yet since the second half of the 20th century this framework has undergone substantial change. In many accounts, non-state actors have become increasingly important to our understanding of global order and security. This module will explore this trend, and the way it has impacted the study of conflict in IR.
The first part of the course lays the foundation with the shift which occurred in IR in the immediate post-Cold War period—that is, from a focus on wars between states to those within them. We will discuss topics such as the ‘old vs. new war’ debate, questions about why and how rebellions emerge as a viable challenge to the state, and the challenges of bargaining for peace between governments and rebels.
The second part of the course explores how innovations in the available conflict data have allowed scholars to ask new research questions and, as a result, improved our understanding of the changing reality of conflict in the world. Here, we will consider questions about the fluidity of actors in multidimensional conflicts and the potential for rivalries, factionalism, and alliances. Finally, the last part of the course focuses on the more recent trend of ‘internationalised’ conflicts in the global system, and specifically the emergence of new kinds of non-state actors, such as cross-border terrorist networks, foreign fighters, and private security contractors. We will investigate the causes of these phenomena, the strategies employed by these actors, their persistence, and potential counter measures.
The course will provide students with knowledge of the major patterns of conflict transformation in the international system over the past few decades, and a foundational understanding of key theoretical debates around these puzzles.