The Pursuit of Peace in 19th and 20th Centuries

HIST 145 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

There was a war or other violent conflict somewhere in the world in every single year of the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Some wars were short, others prolonged. Some were small in scope, others were global. Casualties of these wars ranged from tens of thousands to tens of millions. Perhaps because of the near-constancy of war, the pursuit of peace is likewise a consistent element of world history. What have the champions of peace sought? What did peace mean? Who was entitled to it? This course examines conceptions of peace (such as the absence of war, the realization of social justice, and respect for human dignity), peace negotiations after wars (including the Congress of Vienna and the Paris Peace conference), and the people who have advocated for peace, not just pacifists but also scientists, academics, lawyers, religious leaders, politicians, freedom fighters, and civil rights activists. At the end of the course, we will build a grand narrative for the history of peace.