BMET 27A26 - Global History of insurgence and couter insurgence

In recent decades, far more people have been killed in conflicts within states than in wars between them. Understanding guerrilla warfare, revolutions, and counterinsurgency campaigns is therefore essential for understanding contemporary world and global politics.

This course explores how modern political violence has been shaped by struggles over who counts as a legitimate fighter and who is labeled a criminal, rebel, or terrorist. From imperial frontiers to civil wars and revolutionary movements, the course examines how language, power, and violence intersect in the making of insurgency and counterinsurgency.

Using an actor-oriented approach and primary sources such as military manuals, revolutionary texts, and counterinsurgency theory, students will analyze how soldiers, insurgents, and state authorities understood their actions and justified their use of force.

The course is organized as a research seminar in which students develop and present an original project based on historical sources, supported by workshops, discussion, and peer feedback.