In the 21^st century the need for effective peacebuilding and conflict resolution is as great as ever. Many long-running conflicts remain unresolved. Pessimists even see the menacing potential for new wars looming just over the horizon. What are the conditions for sustainable peace? This course begins by examining the mechanisms available for bringing about peaceful resolutions to conflict and war. We seek to analyse the prospects for peace in the 21^st century through a close engagement with examples of conflict resolution and peacebuilding from across the Asia-Pacific region. The empirical perspective of this course builds on case-studies from four regions relevant to the study of peace and conflict: Northeast Asia (especially the Korean peninsula), South Asia (with a focus on Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (dealing mostly with Burma) and the Pacific (looking at the Solomon Islands). These major case-studies each illustrate different challenges and approaches to conflict resolution and peace building. Students will be encouraged to consider the communication strategies, attitudes towards justice, political instincts and other practical attributes that are relevant to resolving conflict and building peace in such contexts. To facilitate a hands-on appreciation of those attributes, the course includes a hypothetical exercise designed to challenge us to look at peace efforts from a variety of real-world perspectives.                         
   

Students who successfully complete this course should have: 

1.       Gained a practical perspective on peacebulding and conflict resolution in the 21^st century, and developed the conceptual apparatus for understanding contemporary peacebuilding efforts, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

2.       Understood concepts that are considered in detail including violence, truce, justice, trauma, peacekeeping, reconciliation, anomie, truth, healing and resolution, with special attention to those situations where peace processes have consistently failed to achieve their goals.

3.       Clarified their knowledge of these concepts with respect to a case-study of their choice.

4.       Analysed different patterns of peacebuilding and conflict resolution, and the specific places and times in which they are relevant, in the context of developing a fuller appreciation of the practical challenges involved in efforts for peace.

1.       Tutorial participation 5%

2.       Contribution to success of the peacebuilding hypothetical 15%

3.       Written reflection on hypothetical participation 25%

4.       Contributions to online debate 15%

5.       Case-study essay 40%

3 contact hours and 6 hours private study per week, with a greater workload in the lead-up to the peacebuilding hypothetical exercise.

None

No prior knowledge of the study of peace, conflict or war is required, however prior completion of “Local conflicts, global wars” (ASIA1021) will prove useful.

A reading brick will be made available. The course will also make full use of WATTLE and students are expected to pay close attention to the regularly updated course website.

Before the course commences students are also encouraged to have read at least one of the volumes in Professor John Braithwaite’s “Peacebuilding Compared” series. The website for that series is: http://peacebuilding.anu.edu.au/

WATTLE

Power-point and recording enabled lecture theatre