What distinguishes a country ‘at peace’ from one experiencing war? How do we define and explain types of violence, ranging from the interpersonal level to civil conflict, interstate war, and mass atrocities? This course will examine theories and empirical studies of conflict and violence from the local to the global, drawing on approaches from across the social sciences. We will work to understand individual and collective behavior in conflict and violent environments and how the social, political, and economic factors motivating or facilitating conflict might be altered or addressed to help build more sustainable peace. The course is highly participatory and has a mixed structure, with one lecture and one session of small group and full class discussion each week.