The State and Violence

Education facts

Code: 5HG101

This course explores how genocide and other forms of mass violence have shaped political systems and societies from antiquity to the present. By tracing how the meaning and use of violence have changed over time—from ancient city-states and medieval religious orders to the modern state’s monopoly on violence—you gain insight into how power, identity, religion, and citizenship have been organised and legitimised. The course highlights how shifting political structures and ideas have influenced both the function of violence and perceptions of the state’s right to use it. Upon completion, you will be able to identify major historical developments, explain how structural and intellectual changes affect expressions of violence, and analyse how state–citizen relations have evolved across time. The course provides a solid foundation for further studies on genocide and other forms of mass violence in specific historical, cultural, and political contexts.

Entry requirements

Grundläggande behörighet + Engelska 6. Eller: Engelska nivå 2

Education offerings

Each offering has its own dates and conditions. Closed offerings are retained as history and do not mean that a new application is open.

• The State and Violence

  Uppsala University

  Start date: 1 October 2026

  End date: 3 November 2026

  Pace of study: 100 %