Learning objectives
With the course, students must acquire an in-depth knowledge of the processes of disarmament of conventional armaments and of mass destruction from the Congress of Vienna to the present day; this presupposes the arrangement of this dynamic within the framework of the politics of the great powers, of the most important alliances on a continental and world level and of the International Organizations. At the end of the course the student must know this evolution on single weapons and weapon systems with the ability to analyze and interpret them. It must also be able to make comparisons between the development of armaments, technical-scientific progress, the perception of security in the various political phases and the power relations between the major and minor powers. The knowledge of these problems, with adequate in-depth analysis, must allow the student to formulate personal judgments, make comparisons on the different strategies and evaluate the prospects for a peaceful coexistence among peoples. These specific knowledge, these skills of analysis and comparison must also be able to express themselves with adequate communication and discussion skills that highlight an appreciable completion of the teachings carried out. The approach adopted must allow students, as already happens, to take an active part in similar courses held in Italy and abroad, even with more legal and political addresses.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of the history of international relations (1815-2021) and general geography.
Course unit content
The hope of peoples to live in peace has never been extinguished; this has not prevented the use of war instruments although attempts have been made to reduce violence, prevent its causes and promote peace.
Despite the efforts made, there remains the danger of an "armed planet", the inadequacy of the agreements reached, the frequent recourse to new forms of belligerence and the disappointment due to the increase in military spending.
Is the fraternal and responsible coexistence of peoples, free from the nuclear threat, a realistic goal or a utopia?
The course examines this evolution over the past two centuries from the Congress of Vienna to today; emphasizes
instruments adopted for disarmament, on the security needs of States and communities and on the desired peaceful coexistence. It should be pointed out that there is no customary obligation to disarm or control
armaments as the latter are determined by the will of the powers concerned. Under this
profile Disarmament measures are fragmented and complex (voluntary, reciprocal, general, regional, time-
temporary, permanent, etc.); they also entailed prohibitions, controls and verifications (inspections, reviews and clauses
of withdrawal). During the course the criteria adopted to promote an "international peaceful order" will be studied: the European Concert, the balancing alliances, the Congresses, the Hague peace system, the measures promoted by the League of Nations, the Briand-Kellogg Pact and the system established by the UN (Disarmament commissions, international conferences, special sessions, programmatic declarations).
These political agreements have generally led to the adoption of arms containment and reduction measures. In this regard, there is talk of conventional and unconventional weapons. The first group includes those usually supplied to armies for which various restrictive measures have been adopted over time: Petersburg Declaration (1868), Geneva Conference (1925), Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-personnel Mines (1997), Convention against cluster munitions (2008), UN Arms Trade Treaty (2013).
The weapons of "mass destruction" belong to the second group, that is, capable of causing a large number
of victims and the devastation of vast territories (atomic, nuclear, bacteriological, biological and radiological).
Numerous agreements have been reached in this regard: Prohibition of atomic experiments in the atmosphere,
in space and on celestial bodies (1963) and non-use of the seabed (1970), TNP (1968), INF (1987), SALT Agreements I and II (1972 and 1979), START I and II (1991 and 1992), SORT (2002), Conventions against chemical and bacteriological weapons,
Convention for the destruction of all nuclear weapons (2017). It should also be noted the prohibition of militarization of certain areas: Antarctica (1959), outer space, the Moon and other celestial bodies
(1967). The agreements to denuclearise some territories (Agreements for America
Latin, by sectors of Southeast Asia and the African continent). The evolution of
conventional conflicts versus asymmetric, hybrid and cybernetic ones.
Bibliography
Recommended texts:
course program developed during recorded and available online lessons.
Or: M. De Leonardis, Ultima Ratio Regum. Bologna 2013.
Teaching methods
Lectures, comparisons and insights on the most important topics, meetings with exponents of the academic, diplomatic and political world, interdisciplinary seminars and voluntary written exercises.
Assessment methods and criteria
Exams: oral evaluation out of thirty.
Exam Commission: prof. A. Duce, prof. Umberto Castagnino Berlinghieri, prof. Giulia Bassi, prof. Bruno Pierri.
The answers must highlight the knowledge acquired, the ability to place them in specific historical-political-military contexts, the adequate use of terminology, the maturity of independent judgments and adequate comparisons between the instruments adopted at international level. The exams are carried out in person or online according to the evolution of the health emergency.
