Purpose of this course:
This course explores the “War and Society” approach to studying the social, political, cultural, and economic dimensions of war. In contrast to traditional military history, the practitioners of this approach are not interested in tactics, geopolitics, battle history, or the deeds of great captains. Instead, they address subjects such as the influence of popular culture on military operations, the dialectical relationship between war and social change, and the interaction of cultures that war creates. Therefore, this class will not analyze individual battles, commanders, or the movements of armies. Instead, it will explore how some War and Society historians have understood war as well as the methodology associated with this approach.

Books:
Christian Appy, Working-Class War(University of North Carolina Press, 1993).

Stéphane Audoin-Rouzeau and Annette Becker, 14-18: Understanding the Great War (Hill and Wang, 2003).

Jeremy Black, Rethinking Military History(Routledge, 2004).

William C. Davis, The Cause Lost: Myths and Realities of the Confederacy (University Press of Kansas, 1996).

John Dower, War Without Mercy (Pantheon, 1987).

Lawrence Keeley, War Before Civilization (Oxford University Press, 1997).

David Kennedy, Over Here: The First World War and American Society (Oxford University Press, 1982).

Gerald Linderman, Embattled Courage (Free Press, 1989).

John Lynn, Battle: A History of Combat and Culture (Westview, 2003).

Noel Perrin, Giving Up the Gun: Japan’s Reversion to the Sword (David R. Godine Publishers, 1995).

Classwork and Written Assignments:
In addition to your active participation in class discussion (20% of final grade), you will also write a 20-25 page paper on some facet of the War and Society approach. The following assignments will be due:

1. Two-page prospectus outlining your topic and the research questions you hope to address (15% of final grade and due week 6).

2. A five to ten page annotated bibliography (15% of grade and due week 9).

3. A presentation in class of your research. You will be evaluated both on your presentation and the value of questions you pose to the presenters (20% of grade and conducted weeks 13 and 14).

4. The final paper (30% of the grade and due 30 November).

Schedule of classes:
Week four (21 September):
No class

Week five (28 September):
Reading: Lynn, Battle

Week six (5 October):
Reading: Black, Rethinking Military History

Week seven (12 October):
Reading: Keeley, War Before Civilization
PROSPECTUS DUE

Week eight (19 October):
Reading: Davis, The Cause Lost

Week nine (26 October):
Linderman, Embattled Courage
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE

Week ten (2 November):
Reading: Kennedy, Over Here

Week eleven (9 November):
Reading: Audoin-Rouzeau and Becker, 14-18

Week twelve (16 November):
Reading: Dower, War Without Mercy

Week thirteen (30 November):
Reading: Appy, Working-Class War

Week f ourteen (7 December):
No reading
PRESENTATIONS
FINAL PAPER DUE

Week fifteen (14 December):
No reading
PRESENTATIONS

Academic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty will not be condoned under any circumstance. See the current Undergraduate Bulletin for a good definition of such behavior. Cheating on an exam or demonstrated plagiarism on a paper will automatically lead to a grade of “F” for the course and can result in dismissal from the college. The instructor reserves the right to use electronic resources, such as turnitin.com, to detect plagiarism. If you have questions or concerns about this policy—please see the instructor during office hours.

Students with Disabilities: If a student has a disability that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities Covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies.

Mailing address: 118 College Drive # 8586, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; Telephone: (601) 266-5024; TTY: (601) 266-6837; Fax: (601) 266-6035 or at: http://www.ids.usm.edu/ODA/default.asp