Leadership in War and Peace

This course considers the pivotal role of the personalities of leaders who take their nations into war—or avoid such—and the military leaders who advise those individuals and execute operations once war has commenced. In others words, this course examines the premise that individuals and personalities matter. It bookends the more often studied macro considerations regarding the root causes of war and peace, such as foreign policies and the international system. Additionally, the course examines the relationship between civilian authorities and the military as related to consideration of war and peace, and how that relationship can affect directions taken. And finally, the course considers key premises of leadership: What makes a leader successful? Are leaders born or made? Does the environment make a leader or will a leader be a leader in any environment?