Conflicts over access to, and control of, resources have been a constant in human history.  Rational policies to manage increasingly scarce resources often result in seemingly irrational reactions, many of which are rooted in specific cultural values and misunderstandings as much as varying stakeholder aims and objectives.  This course combines conflict and conflict resolution theory with region and resource specific case studies as they evolve over time to provide a broad-based toolkit for analysing the causes of resource conflicts and seeking feasible and enduring solutions.  Emphasis is placed on the fluidity of circumstances and changing mindsets over time.

Students attending this course will:

1. develop an understanding of how the cultural diversity of the Asia Pacific region has resulted in a great range of attitudes towards, and uses of, the natural environment.

2. come to understand that resource disputes can only be understood and resolved through learning about the diverse agendas of multiple stakeholders through their own words.

3. gain knowledge of theories explaining environmental conflict, and apply them to a variety of case studies.

Otomar Bartos & Paul Wehr, Using Conflict Theory; Moshe Rapaport (ed.), The Pacific Islands: Environment and Society; Victor King (ed.), Environmental Challenges in South-East Asia.

A full electronic bibliography will be available 2 months before the semester commences.