This course will critically examine the theoretical and practical issues surrounding peace and conflict studies. The course will begin by exploring the range of different understandings of the roots of violence and the contemporary manifestations of conflict. It will then examine the key actors in conflicts such as elites, constituencies, civil society, soldiers, mercenaries, spoilers and outside actors. Turning to major debates in the field, it will explore the question of whether it is ever ‘just’ to use violence for political ends; the concept of ‘non-violence’ in theory and practice; and debates over external intervention (including the R2P debate, various ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ power approaches and the role and efficacy of the UN). We will then investigate key approaches in the field – such as conflict prevention, conflict management, conflict resolution and conflict transformation (and the relationship between these approaches). The role that human security, human rights and international law plays in such processes will also be examined. The course will then turn to the relationship conflict resolution has to peacekeeping, peace-enforcing and post-conflict situations. Integral to these discussions will be the application of theory to case-studies such as Israel-Palestine, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq East Timor, Sri Lanka and Rwanda. The final part of the course will assess the future of conflict and conflict prevention. 

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

1.    Demonstrate an understanding of key debates concerning the use of violence

2.    Explain the major debates concerning the origins and drivers of, and actors involved in, conflict.

3.    Demonstrate an understanding of the major schools of thought concerning conflict prevention, conflict management conflict resolution, and peace-building.

10%: participation (learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3)

60%: 3,000 word essay (learning outcomes 2 and 3)

40%: take-home exam (learning outcomes 2 and 3)

The workload will be 2 hours of lectures and 1 one-hour tutorial once a week. There is an expectation of approximately 7 hours per week of independent study.

POLS1005 or POLS1006

None

An e-brick will be prepared for students with a range of readings. Indicative texts include

• Kaldor, New and Old Wars (Cambridge: Polity, 2007)
• Galtung, Peace by Peaceful Means (Oslo: PRIO, 1996)
• Nye, Understanding International Conflict: An introduction to theory and history (New York: Harper Collins, 1993)
• Cochrane, Ending Wars (London: Polity, 2008)