PG 389 | Costs of War

Much of the study of international relations has been driven by questions about war. Regardless of individuals’ views on any particular war, everyone agrees that war is costly. The most obvious costs are in military expenditure and human lives. However, there are many ways of calculating cost, particularly as it relates to war. This course considers how much weight to give these additional factors in answering the question, "What are the costs of war?" The course looks at human, environmental, economic, social, and political costs of war to deepen students’ understanding of what war claims from belligerents and what costs are paid by combatants and noncombatants alike.