Durée
30h Th
Nombre de crédits
Enseignant
Langue(s) de l'unité d'enseignement
Langue anglaise
Organisation et évaluation
Enseignement au premier quadrimestre, examen en janvier
Horaire
Unités d'enseignement prérequises et corequises
Les unités prérequises ou corequises sont présentées au sein de chaque programme
Contenus de l'unité d'enseignement
This course introduces students to the social and political life of weapons. Weapons are the means through which the immeasurable human suffering and environmental destruction of war have shaped modernity. They have likewise been central to state-building, particularly in the West, where the state emerged through the acquisition of vast arsenals - from so-called "conventional" systems (artillery, explosive bombs, machine guns) to "non-conventional" armaments (chemical and nuclear, among others). Weapons must therefore be understood both in terms of why they exist and in terms of the regulatory efforts - imperfect, but real - that seek to limit their destructive power.
More than this, weapons are often presented as the "tragic but necessary" product of inter-state competition. The course returns to this claim at length, showing that the arming of the world is less a matter of tragedy than of choices made, and of epistemic and legal mechanisms and the interests of specific actors (the military-industrial complex).
The course surveys the socio-political life of a range of weapons systems, from their development in the second half of the nineteenth century to more contemporary developments linked to the militarisation of artificial intelligence.
Acquis d'apprentissage (objectifs d'apprentissage) de l'unité d'enseignement
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- analyse weapons as socio-political objects rather than neutral instruments, and explain how their design and use shape war, the state and the environment;
- trace the historical trajectory of a given weapons system, from the late nineteenth century to the militarisation of artificial intelligence;
- assess the scope and limits of arms control and disarmament regimes, and account for why regulation succeeds in some cases and fails in others;
- mobilise this framework in concrete case studies, written and argued to master's standard.
Savoirs et compétences prérequis
A good general knowledge of the modern and contemporary history of international relations, and of IR theories (realism, neoliberalism constructivism, etc.)
Activités d'apprentissage prévues et méthodes d'enseignement
The course will combine lecture sessions taught by the professor and sessions given by outside speakers. Attendance at the sessions given by outside speakers is strictly mandatory. Failure to attend will result in a penalty of 2 points off the final exam for each missed session. Attendance will be taken during these sessions.
The sessions given by an outside speaker may also be the subject of exam questions.
Mode d'enseignement (présentiel, à distance, hybride)
Combinaison d'activités d'apprentissage en présentiel et en distanciel
Informations complémentaires:
Schedule
Tuesdays - 11h-13h
B31 WEBER Max et Marianne (Weber) (0/91)
The online format may be used for having a speaker external to the course.
Supports de cours, lectures obligatoires ou recommandées
Plate-forme(s) utilisée(s) pour les supports de cours :
- MyULiège
Modalités d'évaluation et critères
Examen(s) en session
Toutes sessions confondues
- En présentiel
évaluation écrite ( questions ouvertes )
Stage(s)
Remarques organisationnelles et modifications principales apportées au cours
Contacts
Dr. Julien Pomarède
Associate Professor in International Politics, Departement of Political Science
Centre for the Study of War and Violence (https://www.centrewarviolence.uliege.be/cms/c_12895643/en/cwv)
https://www.uliege.be/cms/c_9054334/en/directory?uid=u240686
Bât. B31 International Politics
Quartier Agora
place des Orateurs 3
4000 Liège 1
Belgique
Office R.77, level 0
email: julien.pomarede@uliege.be