STV4217B ¨C Rational Choice and International Conflict

Course content

The course introduces students to different types of rational choice (RC) models and to applications of RC models, particularly game-theoretical models, in the study of international conflict. You will learn game theory while at the same time enhancing your understanding and knowledge of specific topics in international conflict research.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The following topics are given particular attention:

• Nuclear deterrence
• The effectiveness of economic sanctions
• RC explanations of war
• RC explanations of terrorism

Skills

You will learn to:

• Construct and analyze game-theoretical models
• Read and understand scholarly work on international conflict that uses game theory
• Develop game-theoretical models for use in your master thesis
• Communicate academic knowledge in writing and orally

Competences

You will:

• Increase your general analytical competence
• Enhance your ability to use game theory as part of a larger research project in political science
• Develop your ability to critically assess political science work, both work that uses game theory and work that uses other approaches

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.?Apply for guest student status if you are admitted to another Master`s programme (deadline 1 August / 5 January).

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with STV2217B ¨C Rational Choice Models and International Conflict (discontinued).

Teaching

Lectures.

Compulsory activities:?

• Attend first lecture

• Attend six of the following nine lectures

• Eight assigned problem sets will be obligatory, but not graded

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• Absence from compulsory activities:
  
  For many courses, UiO requires participation in the form of compulsory activities. These must be approved before you can sit for the examination.
  
  If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.
  
  Report absence from or the need for a postponed deadline on a compulsory activity Absence from compulsory activities - University of Oslo (uio.no)

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Examination

4-hour written examination.

You must have passed the compulsory activities in order to sit the exam.

Examination support material

Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.