Why did you decide to offer a course on MINT475 Low Intensities? Why is it an important topic for MINT Students?

The course MINT475 Low Intensities was designed to address a critical gap in the study of contemporary warfare. While war is often portrayed through its most dramatic and destructive manifestations, this course shifts the focus to the quieter, less visible, but equally significant forms of war that shape our world. For MINT students, this course is essential because it provides a nuanced, anthropological lens to examine these wars, which are often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for students pursuing careers in peace-building, conflict resolution, development, humanitarian work, and aivist research, as it equips them to engage with the complexities of modern warfare and its far-reaching consequences.Can you share 3 real-world examples or highlights of the course that would captivate student's interest and stress the course's practical relevance?
 

Can you share 3 real-world examples or highlights of the course that would captivate student's interests and stress the course's practical relevance?

Students will explore how development and rehabilitation programs in war zones are often intertwined with military strategies. For instance, in Kashmir and the Kurdish region of Turkey, development initiatives have been deployed to stabilize regions while simultaneously suppressing dissent. The course will further examine how resource extraction, such as mining for coltan in the Democratic Republic of Congo, fuels low-intensity wars. These activities are often accompanied by mass militarization, forced displacement, and corporate exploitation, creating cycles of economic and environmental control. As a third example, students will study how authorities manage prison revolts, such as the 1971 Attica uprising, using counterinsurgency tactics like negotiation, isolation, and targeted retaliation. By framing prison revolts as insurgencies, the course draws parallels between carceral systems and broader colonial and postcolonial strategies of control, revealing the pervasive nature of low-intensity governance.
 

What skills do you believe students will acquire through this course, and how can these be applied in various academic and professional contexts

First and foremost, students will build their own unique concepts about war. They will learn to deconstruct dominant narratives about war, moving beyond simplistic, Eurocentric, or sensationalized portrayals. They will develop the ability to analyze how low-intensity wars are framed, sustained, and resisted, which is essential for careers in policy-making, journalism, and academia. By engaging with anthropological texts and ethnographic methods, students will gain tools to study contemporary forms of political violence. This skill is invaluable for roles in international organizations, NGOs, and research institutions, where understanding local contexts and lived experiences is crucial. The course emphasizes public speaking, opinion writing, co-writing, and debate, enabling students to articulate complex ideas effectively. These skills are vital for careers in advocacy and humanitarian work, where the ability to communicate nuanced perspectives can drive meaningful change. Finally, students will gain a deeper understanding of how low-intensity wars intersect with global governance, making them well-equipped to contribute to peace-building and resolution efforts. This knowledge is particularly relevant for roles in international development, human rights, and activism.