Causes of War
What causes armed conflict in the world today? Examine current thinking on this critical question with this free online course.
Duration
6 weeksWeekly study
4 hours
Causes of War
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This free online course will introduce you to current thinking on the causes of armed conflict in the world today. It looks at a range of modern and historical conflicts and draws on a variety of theories and approaches. It will appeal to anyone with an interest in world affairs.
Over six weeks you will:
- Define what war is and what it is not
- Familiarise yourself with both Liberal and Realist theories of international relations
- Explore arguments about the causes of inter-state and non-state wars (such as insurgencies and revolutions), both historical and current
- Use evidence to evaluate different theories of war
The course will help you develop your capacity for independent learning and increase your understanding of conflict and international affairs.
You will learn with Dr David Easter, academic lead for War Studies Online, Department of War Studies, King’s College London.
The course features lecturers from the Department including Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, official historian of the Falklands War, and foreign policy advisor to former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
Who is the course for?
No special knowledge or previous experience of studying is required: the course is pitched at undergraduate level.
Who will you learn with?
Dr David Easter is Lecturer in War Studies Online at King’s College London and Academic Director of the online MA programme War in the Modern World.
Who developed the course?
King's College London
King’s College London, established in 1829 and a founding college of the University of London, is one of the world’s leading research and teaching universities, based in the very heart of London.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
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