This concentration examines the forces producing war and violence at the local and the global levels, including disputes between nations, weapons proliferation, international terrorism, economic inequality as well as criminal and domestic violence, civil war, hate crimes and ethnic conflict. analyze domestic and international institutions and social, political, and economic arrangements that promote or undermine peace. Students also consider the role of social movements and revolutionary ideas and learn how ordinary people have changed the course of the world.
The approach of Peace and Conflict Studies is multidisciplinary, drawing on the humanities as well as the social and natural sciences. Students are taught to think critically, to examine and incorporate conflicting perspectives, and to debate broader principles underlying attitudes towards peace and conflict. In short, students learn the tools necessary to become engaged global citizens that can contribute, directly or indirectly, to peace and justice in the world.