PCST 311 - Borders, Conflict and Sovereignty

Prerequisites, PCST 150 and sophomore standing or consent of instructor. This course explores the dynamics around international law, territoriality, conflict, and sovereignty that contribute to some of the most intractable conflicts around the world today. Students will begin the class by examining the nature of state sovereignty and the roots of its constituent concepts such as fixed territories and borders. After critically engaging the idea that any of these are either natural or enduring, the course will examine how borders affect sovereignty conflicts around the globe. Case studies will include the Cypriot Conflict, the Irish Conflict, the Israel-Palestine Conflict, and the South China Sea Conflict, among others. Ultimately, the class will conclude by pondering both the constructed reality of borders and how to deal with them in a constructive manner, and the future of sovereignty and fixed borders in an increasingly globalizing world. Letter grade with Pass/No Pass option. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits