This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

Calendar

There were some minor changes and additions to the organization of this course when it was taught in Fall 2004. This document provides an overview of changes to the syllabus. (PDF)

LEC # TOPICS KEY DATES
Part 1: Theories of Violence and the Problem of Rationality
1 Section 1: Introduction to the Debate  
2-3 Section 2: Theoretical Foundations: Crowds, Ritual or Demonic Males? Reflection paper #1 (Lecture 3)
4-5 Section 3: Political Violence, the State, and Theoretical Controversies Reflection paper #2 (Lecture 5)
Part 2: Conceptions of Rights, Rationality and Relativism
6-7 Section 4: Rights Talk in Western Culture: Whose Rights, Whose Rationality? Reflection paper #3 (Lecture 7)
8-9 Section 5: Debating Universalism versus Cultural Relativism: How Is the Notion of Culture Discussed? Reflection paper #4 (Lecture 9)

First paper topic announced (Lecture 9)
10-11 Section 6: The Spectacle of Torture: Violence, State Security, and the Perpetrator Draft of first paper due (Lecture 10)
Part 3: Dilemmas of Postmodern Violence: State-Sponsored, Collective, or Interpersonal?
12-13 Section 7: Genocide-The Inconceivable? First paper returned with comments (Lecture 12)

Reflection paper #5 (Lecture 13)
14-15 Section 8: The Problem of Sex and Gender Violence in Political Crises: "Ethnic Cleansing" or Interpersonal Crime? Revised version of paper #1 due in class (Lecture 14)
Part 4: From Violence and Trauma to Justice
16-17 Section 9: Argentina's Dirty War Reflection paper #6 (Lecture 17)
18-20 Section 10: Rwanda: Genocide Revisited Reflection paper #7 (Lecture 19)

Second paper topic announced (Lecture 20)
Part 5: The Politics of Memory, Victimization, and Reparations in "Transitional" Societies
21-24 Section 11: South Africa: Truth Commissions, Trials, Trauma, and Transitions to Democracy Second paper due (Lecture 22)

Reflection paper #8 (Lecture 24)

Second paper returned (Lecture 24)
25 Section 12: Haiti: Human Rights, Justice, and Humanitarian Assistance  
Conclusions and Concerns
26   Final draft of second paper due in class (for those who opt to rewrite them)
(Lecture 26)