Political Economy of Conflict

This course surveys the causes and consequences of international conflict through the use of formal models. We will mostly focus on crisis bargaining, where countries can avoid war if they agree to cooperate, as well as various topics within the political economy of conflict. These topics include models of diplomacy, international alliances, and domestic considerations. The goal is two-fold. First, the course aims to provide an in-depth examination of the various strategic interactions that lead to international war. Second and more importantly, the course aims to help students achieve proficiency in analytical methods that can be applied to many political and economic settings. These tools are not only useful in academic inquiry and research, but also for critically evaluating public policies as a citizen and a future leader.