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In this course, students will take a closer look at a host of non-state armed actors whose origins can be traced back to pre-statal politics and international relations but whose presence can be felt very tangibly in 21st century geopolitics. Violence has always been a principal currency of sociopolitical interaction. We tend to associate unconventional forms of war-making with the post-September 11th era of geopolitics; in fact, a number of unconventional warriors have wielded violence before and, then, alongside states for centuries. And, while a great deal of today’s attention, both scholarly and policy-oriented, tends to focus in particular on terrorists and insurgents, a host of other non-state armed actors operate as what Vadim Volkov calls “entrepreneurs” in the field of violence. Their methods, motivations, and interests have evolved over time. Many of the factors that led to their emergence historically have ceased to exist, but these actors have adapted and transformed in ways that keep them relevant to this day. While the modalities of each of these actors vary tremendously, mystique and mythology are common to them all. And there remains great debate about the roles they play in modern matters of war, peace, and governance. Taught by Dipali Mukhopadhyay.