INDUS VALLEY SCHOOL OF ART & ARCHITECTURE
Course Outline
Department / Programme:
Liberal Arts
Course Title:
Rethinking War in Global Politics
Course Code:
LA 755 | LA 955
Credit Rating:
2.00
Semester
Spring 2017
Duration of the Course:
16-18 weeks; every Friday, 8.30–10.30am
Instructor’s name & contact:
Heba Islam; [email protected]
Course Description
This is a seventh semester elective and will explore a variety of theories on War, and the violence
associated with it, using a number of case studies ranging from Pakistan to the American military to
Rwanda. The course will include an interdisciplinary and eclectic set of readings to understand the
primal human tendency towards conflict. What makes people commit acts of unspeakable horror in
the name of war? Who carries out the violence and who is affected by it? In what ways do
institutions (both political and cultural) contribute to the production of war? The idea is not to carry
out a clear historical or chronological examination, but rather to explore war in different political
and historical contexts, across geographies, and reach our own conclusions about what brings
people, countries, and ethnic groups into conflict. This course will also examine what justifications
are used to initiate war, and whether it is ever justified in the first place. How do we, as a society,
interact with the concept of war and violence? In what ways do art, literature and poetry try to
capture the unspeakable horrors of such violence?
Course Objectives




To critically analyze the historical context of state and non-state justifications used by groups use for
war
To provide an inter-disciplinary approach (psychological, political, anthropological and historical) to
understanding a broad theoretical subject
To learn to do close readings of texts through constant practice in class and at home
To write analytical papers on both the readings as well as a local case study of the student’s choice,
relevant to their research and practice interests
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students will gain an understanding of:
1. War and violence in the context of the region
2. The ways in which different modes of war and violence relate to one another across the
world (a cross-cultural approach)
3. How to investigate the concept of war and violence by placing these things in disparate,
social, economic, and political contexts
4. Research practices: Students will learn to engage with critical texts, and have discussionheavy sessions
5. Articulate these understandings and ideas verbally and in written form
Learning and Teaching Activities
Classes will be conducted in a lecture/seminar-style, leaving as much room for discussion as
possible. Classes will be structured around close readings of texts together, and will be
supplemented with audio-visual material. Guest lecturers may also be invited based on expertise.
Assessment will focus on a deep understanding of the texts provided during the course as well as
on research methodologies taught. Constant and consistent engagement with the assigned texts
is required of the students throughout the semester.
Note: the weekly reading plan is currently tentative, the instructor has the right to modify it according to
class responsiveness and capabilities.
Reading the material provided before each class is MANDATORY. This is a reading-intensive
course and will be treated as such. All discussions will revolve around the readings in question.
Course assessment Methods
● Attendance/Punctuality and class
participation:10%
● 2 Reading Responses: (Pass/Fail,
on timely submission) 10%
● Midterm: 30%
● Presentation: 15%
● Final Research Project: 35%
Resource/Reading List
See Weekly Course Plan below.
Electronic copies will be provided wherever available
Course reader will be available at the IVS photocopier, for purchase
WEEKLY COURSE
PLAN
Introduction to the course
Course outline, assessment methods, grading criteria etc.
Week 1
General introduction:
Why are war and violence important subjects of study? How are definitions of war
and violence important in the context of Pakistan? Introduction to course material
and grading instruments
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
War and state violence
“Between the Earthquakes and the War” by Mahvish Ahmad (Originally
published in Herald magazine)
War and public memory
We will watch the documentary “The Act of Killing” by Joshua Oppenheimer
about state-sanctioned terror in Indonesia
War as perversion
“The Seduction of Battle and the Perversion of War” by Chris Hedges: page 83-103
New modes of war and violence
“On Suicide Bombing’ by TalalAsad -- Columbia University Press 2007 – Pages
TBD
The visuals of war and violence
“Palestine” – A graphic novel by Joe Sacco
Week 8
The War on Terror as a case study
Dirty Wars: A documentary by Jeremy Scahill
Midterm Due
The portrayal of violence in literature
Selected short stories by Saadat Hasan Manto
Week 9
Torture as an instrument of War
“The Moral Psychology of Torture” by JessicalWolfendale 161-183
Week 7
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Genocide as an instrument of War
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families-Stories from
Rwanda by Philip Gourevitch 124-144
Work session – students to start working together for presentations on
different case studies of choice
Students will work in groups of 3
Presentations
Last twenty min: Students will individually discuss their potential research
papers with me
Week 13
Presentations
Last twenty min: Students will individually discuss their potential research
papers with me
Week 14
War and resistance:
We will watch the documentary “5 broken cameras”, on the Israel-Palestine conflict
Finals due
Week 15
Revision/Wrapping up etc
Week 16
Revision/Wrapping up etc
Note:
The course outline/weekly schedule is subject to change due to any necessary course updates or unavoidable
logistical issues. You will be notified of any such changes, in advance as soon as possible.
Reading Responses: 10% final grade
● These will be written assignments due on either a reading or a documentary, and may be
unannounced – as written above, they are pass/fail on timely submission
Mid-term assessment: 30% of final grade
● Deadline: Week 7: Hand-in
● The Mid-term will be a short, 1000 word essay, based on a close, analytical reading of an academic
text.
Presentations on case studies: 15% of your grade
● These will be on case studies of your choice, and will examine war from an angle discussed in class
(literature, visual, genocide, etc)
Final paper: 35% of your grade
● Deadline: Week 14: Hand-in
● This will be a research paper (2000 words) based on a broad theoretical question, and will require a
thoughtful, theoretical response in return which uses both readings from class as well as external
sources
● Grading is based on depth of research & number of references, the coherent framing of a
convincing argument, complete citations and footnotes, and the structure and style of writing.
*Grading criteria will be discussed in class in detail both in the beginning of the course, and before each
assignment is due
PLAGIARISM
Each discipline within the arts has specific and appropriate means for students to cite or acknowledge
sources, and the ideas and material of others used in their own work. Students have the responsibility
to become familiar with such processes and to carefully follow their use in developing original work.
IVS will not tolerate plagiarism, which is defined as claiming authorship of, or using someone else's
ideas or work without proper acknowledgment. Without proper attribution, a student may NOT
replicate another's work partly of wholly, paraphrase another's ideas, orappropriate images in a
manner that violates the specific rules against plagiarism at IVS. In addition, students may not submit
the same work for credit in more than one course without the explicit approval of all of the
instructors of the courses involved. When the instructor has evidence that a student has plagiarized
work submitted for course credit, the instructor will confront the student and impose penalties that
may include failing the course. In the case of a serious violation or repeated infractions from the same
student, the instructor will report the infractions to the department chair. Depending on the
circumstances of the case the department chair may then report the student to the administration,
which may choose to impose further penalties, including suspension or expulsion.
IVS GRADING SYSTEM
Alphabetical grades reflect the Percentage and Grade Point Average (GPA).
Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by multiplying grade points obtained in each course by the
number of credit hours of the respective course. Every hour, per week, attended in the classroom and every
two hours, per week, of work in studio, workshop or laboratory is considered equivalent to one credit hour
per semester.
Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) is obtained by dividing the total Grade Points of courses taken
during a semester by the total number of credit hours.
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is obtained by adding all SGPAs of the 4 or 5 year programme
and dividing the total by the total number of semesters
Letter Grade
A
AB+
%
90-100
85-89
80-84
GPA
4.00
3.70
3.30
B
BC+
C
CD
75-79
70-74
66-69
62-65
58-61
55-57
3.00
2.70
2.30
2.00
1.70
1.30
E
45-54
1-44
0
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00/Acquire
d Grade
U/Grade
I
Qualitative Key
Outstanding and exceeds expectations.
Excellent.
Very Good, manifests a clear grasp and understanding
of all concepts and applications.
Good. Meets all criteria of assessment very well.
Meets the criteria of assessment in varying degrees.
Adequate with Potential.
Adequate.
Needs Improvement.
Poor/Barely meets criteria (in serious danger of
Failing).
Unacceptable / Inadequate (Marginally Failing)
Unacceptable / Inadequate (Failing)
No submission
Pass (Applicable only for theory courses and 1 credit
hour course of Foundation Programme)
Incomplete Grade
The assessors/teachers will grant alphabetical grade for all work done by students. The SGPA and CGPA
will then be computed by the Academic office on the basis of the final letter grade awarded in a course. The
above mentioned key will apply in the case of all assessments except thesis grading
ATTENDANCE POLICY
a) Students are expected to have regular and punctual attendance in all the courses in which they
have enrolled.
b) Students are expected to have a minimum of 75% attendance in each course
(i) Students are expected to be on time in all lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops,
lab/studio/practical session, professional placements and field trips. All late arrivals will be
recorded and will constitute part of the student’s official profile in school records
IVS Grading Policy (effective from June 2014)
(ii) Students who have passed a theory course but have poor attendance below 50% will
receive a Zero GPA. U/Acquired Grade will reflect on their academic transcripts for that
specific course
(iii) This penalty will be valid for students who have missed their classes (more than 50%)
habitually and have been able to pass somehow by handing in good assignments
(iv) Such students will not sit in the remedial exam or may not repeat the course, however if
they want to repeat the course and want to improve their grade they can do so after
graduation
For further details please see the IVS Grading Policy for Undergraduate Programmes