Faculty Advisor: Associate Researcher, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University

Research Practicum Introduction

War and other forms of conflict are fundamental factors shaping the history and social constructs of humankind. In this program, we will examine their role in the formation of and relations between states in the past. Studying peacemaking in international relations is equally crucial for understanding our present and preparing for the future. 

From Thucydides’ seminal work on the Peloponnesian war to the present time, human history is a history of wars. Scholarly insights have been drawn from landmark conflicts —from Arabian conquests, to the crusades, to the Thirty-Year War, which ended with the first comprehensive peace agreement that created a system of international relations. Colonial wars and Napoleonic conquests globalized warfare, which culminated with two world wars, followed by systematic efforts to rebuild the postwar order. More recently, a global Cold War confrontation ended with a settlement which offered hope for a lasting peace. Yet the world we live in remains beset with uncertainties.

In this program, let us explore together what history and international relations can teach us about war and peace, which literally concerns life and death. Students are offered a comparative insight into waging war, peacemaking, and international relations. They will be guided through vast literature of this challenging field, and challenged to scrutinize primary and secondary materials related to this topic. Students will examine past conflicts in order to analyze those which currently surround us. 

Students will also learn general and subject-specific research and writing methods. Students will focus on individual topics and generate their own work products (usually in the form of a 3-5 page research proposal) upon completion of the program.

Possible Topics For Final Project:

The goal for a student is to identify a suitable case study which would help answer one or more such questions.

• Why is warfare such a fundamental part of recorded human history? 

• How did warfare, peacemaking, and international relations change over time? 

• How does a society transition from war to peace? 

• How is peace brokered and maintained? 

• How does peace evolve into international order?

Program Detail

• Cohort Size: 5-10 students

• Duration: 12 weeks

• Workload: Around 3 hours per week (including class time and homework time)

• Target Students: 7-9th grade students who are interested in history, international relations, political science, law, sociology, anthropology, and other social science subjects.