Why do wars begin? How are they fought? Why and how do they end? Since the first
and only use of atomic weapons in 1945, scholars and practitioners alike have argued for decades that the character of war is changing and that the pace of change is steadily increasing. That change can be disorienting, but there are many aspects about war's nature that are enduring and should be recognized as points of continuity even as war today continues to evolve. This course examines armed conflict in recent decades, analyzing trends in technological, sociological, political, and cultural change to better understand the modern character of war: its causes, conduct, and consequences. Cadets taking this course will be better prepared to understand change and continuity in modern warfare as they enter the profession of arms.
