The seminars aim to facilitate an interdisciplinary and comparative approach to the study of current politics and historical events by bringing together eminent scholars and highly qualified students and professionals from around the world. Set against the backdrop of the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the beautiful and historically-rich Peloponnesian region of Greece, the Olympia seminars provide a unique opportunity for critical thinking and intellectual interaction in a relaxed environment.

The course provides a concise, yet in-depth, overview of new theoretical and empirical research on a range of topics at the intersection of war, conflict, and identity, including interstate and civil war, terrorism, riots and genocide, and the dynamics of conflict. The course addresses questions such as the following: What is the relation between conflict and violence? What explains the changing patterns and forms of violent conflict? How do identities impact on violence, and vice-versa? Is civil war on the rise? What accounts for the major decline of interstate war? Is mass violence becoming more or less common? What is terrorism and how is it linked to these developments? How does conflict interact with state collapse and state building? The goal is to survey cutting edge research and identify emerging research agendas.

10.- Miscellaneous