Armed violence resulting from internal conflict and criminal activity is posing a serious obstacle to political, social and economic development at the global, regional, national and local level. This seminar focuses on the reality of armed violence and its negative effects. The course addresses the global burden of violence, its impact on development, theories/risk factors/stresses of violence, and preventing armed violence. There are three main seminar research topics. The first is the demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, to include women and child soldiers. The second theme is the instruments of armed violence, namely, small arms and light weapons (SALW), to include land mines. Topics include the sources and methods of illegal arms proliferation, diversion from legal to illegal arms possession, misuse or proliferation. A third general theme is the various policies and programs being implemented to reduce urban gang violence, with a special focus on the public health approach to armed violence reduction. The typical student research project is on which develops (or evaluates) a program to reduce or prevent armed violence and enhance development at the local, national or global level. Students must have read the book The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined prior to the start of the seminar.