“The War on Terror” has become a hallmark of the contemporary international order. 9/11, the Bali bombings, 7/7, the Charlie Hebdo murders, the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, and many more incidents have become imbedded in our collective memories as symbols of a “new” global threat. Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, ISIS, and “the far right” have become terms in the common vernacular. Indeed, in many respects, both the realities and perceptions of terrorism affect the everyday lives of billions of people. But is it all really anything new?  Contrary to popular belief, terrorism has always been part of the international polity. From the terror cimbricus of ancient Rome, to the ?ashsh?sh?n of the Fatimid Empire, to the anarchists of 19^th century Russia: world history is littered with “terrorists.” But while we have used the word for more than two millennia, defining terrorism in any objective and universally agreed fashion has proven near impossible. This course will explore some of the many dimensions of global terrorism. Beginning with definitions, we will trace the development of terror as a political tool from the ancient world to the 21^st century: covering the cultural, religious, and ideological dimensions of some of the best – and least – known “terrorists” in history.  Examining terrorism as a contentious and subjective term throughout, this course offers an historical perspective with focus on the origins, structure, and dynamics of terrorism as an instrument of both state and non-state actors, as well as corresponding counter-terrorism strategies. Particular attention is on the 19th and 20th centuries, however we will also address terrorism in the current international order looking at groups like Al Qaeda, ISIS, continuing state-sponsored violence, the “lone wolf” phenomenon, and the many faces of so-called “homegrown” extremism.

For a country that no longer exists, the Soviet Union continues to have substantial impact on the contemporary global order. In 2005, Russian leader Vladimir Putin called the collapse of the Soviet Union “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century”.  He added that “for the Russian people, it became a genuine tragedy”, lamenting how millions of them were left outside of an “historical Russia”. At the time, many observers considered that and similar comments Putin made as nationalist rhetoric or simple nostalgia for a time when Russia represented more of a global power. However, following Russia’s 2014 occupation of Crimea, and its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Putin’s comments reveal a much more complex and dangerous world view: focused, at least in part, on the restoration of Russian and Soviet empires long since passed. In that respect, understanding the history of the Soviet Union is key to understanding modern Russia and the pivotal role it plays in today’s international order. It is also essential to understanding the fifteen other countries that used to be part of it, and the contemporary conflicts that haunt many of them.  This course explores the history of the Soviet Union from its origins to its collapse, with respect to both national and international dimensions. Topics include the collapse of imperial rule and the Russian Revolution; the civil war; Soviet efforts to reshape politics, the economy, and history; that nature of “everyday life” for the millions who lived in the country; the pivotal role of leadership, ideology, and ‘world views’; state violence and genocide; the Second World War; de-Stalinization and détente; Cold War foreign policy; division and decline in the Soviet empire; and the eventual collapse of the state. We will also examine the legacy of Soviet rule in the region today, particularly with respect to modern Russia, its role in global affairs, and the war in Ukraine.

Hidden codes, special devices, fiendish villains, and top secrets all have a special place in popular culture, but as alluring as the mythology may be, it does not answer important questions about the roles that espionage and intelligence agencies play in international relations. This course covers the evolution of spying and spy services from the late 19th century to the present, focusing on the effects of major issues such as the two world wars, the Cold War, 9-11, and international security threats today. This course examines the evolution of intelligence services throughout the twentieth century, with particular reference to the two world wars, technological changes, and the “Cold War” confrontation after 1945. Special attention in the course will be paid to the role that intelligence played in securing the Allied victory during World War Two, and in crucial Cold War events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam War. We will also study numerous historical intelligence failures and how they shaped the world in which we live. The course will explore various realities and perceptions of the intelligence world to examine the processes, see how institutions function, and come to terms with how intelligence is disseminated, employed, and understood. Because of the importance of popular culture in helping to form our understanding of espionage, we will also look at the impact of spy fiction, TV, films, and other media in shaping our perceptions of intelligence matters. The course will conclude with an examination of the many challenges intelligence services face today, and the future of spying in the post-Cold War world. In this regard, the events of September 11, 2001, the current “war on terrorism”,  renewed rivalries between superpowers, cyberespionage, election interference, “foreign government influence”, and the many other facets of contemporary international security discourse will be discussed. Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to see how intelligence and espionage have shaped history, and continue to impact your every day life: often in ways you may not have considered.  Accordingly, you should remember that key issues like personal liberties, human rights, and the development/preservation of civil societies are always part of a discussion on what intelligence is and does.

The two world wars between 1914 and 1945 have transformed our planet. In 1900 Europe dominated international relations; since then we have seen the rise of the superpowers of the United States and the Soviet Union, and a shift in power to the non-European world of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This course examines the causes and significance of these changes. Topics include political, economic, and military factors, war-making, and peace-keeping. The early twentieth century witnessed the breakdown of the international political and economic order. Great power rivalries, an arms race, competition for colonies and markets, and domestic turmoil contributed to the explosion in 1914. The First World War destroyed much of European civilisation by bringing an end to four empires, and greatly weakening the power of several others. Countries like the United States and Japan became key players in the new order. New ideologies and new forms of government developed as a result of the changes, giving rise to even more instability and conflict: evidenced in the rise of Mussolini, Stalin, and Hitler. Simultaneously, the “Roaring 20s” brought unprecedented economic and technological growth, producing profound societal and cultural changes, and affecting a host of different issues and ideas: women’s rights, race relations, industry and labour, sexuality, music, art, literature, film, radio, and much more. The global economic crisis in the 1930s brought additional pressures that eventually erupted in another world war between 1939 and 1945. How and why did this happen? Why did Europe self-destruct? What about other countries? This course will explain the enormity of changes that occurred with First World War and the subsequent attempts to re-establish a stable international order in the 1920s and 1930s. We will also examine how and why these attempts failed, and why the Second World War occurred. A wide array of topics and events will be addressed, such as imperialism; nationalism; militarism; technological advancements; pressures for war; the Paris Peace Conference and dismantling of empires; ideological extremism and the rise of Hitler and Stalin; Japan’s conquests in Asia; the Great Depression; American isolationism; appeasement policy; the coming of WWII; the Holocaust; the atomic bomb; “total war”; and the development of a new “cold war” between the United States and the Soviet Union after 1945. In the process, we will examine the historical roots, structures, and problems that shape the international order today.