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Conflict Prevention and Peace Studies

  Conflict Prevention and Peace Studies
COURSE DURATION 1 Semester
ECTS CREDITS 6 ECTS
DISTRIBUTION OF HOURS This course is a tutored blended course comprising of 18 contact hours,
a total of 72 hours of independent work, including 24 hours for three short essays that form part of the basis of the assessment.
INSTRUCTOR Prof. Dr. Nino Pavlenishvili
Ilia State University
Tel: 555171903
 nino.pavlenishvili@iliauni.edu.ge
PREREQUISITES Knowledge of the English language, at least B2. Students will be tasked with reading English language texts, articles, and documents and are expected to understand such texts and review them for class. Furthermore, short essays need to be written in English.
INSTRUCTION METHODS The course is based on Moodle and supported by at least one tutor at a time. Students will be reading texts, watching videos, do single- and group work exercises. Regular feedback is provided by tutors and via peer assessment.
AIMS OF THE COURSE  In this online course, you will...
  • familiarize yourself with fundamental concepts of peace and conflict studies such as "conflict prevention," with "types of violent conflict," the relationship of "culture and conflict," etc.;
  • gain knowledge about different kinds of actors in conflict and their specific forms of organization, such as global movements or networks;
  • get an overview of different approaches (from cultural diplomacy to mediation) and levels of conflict resolution like government negotiations or civil society dialog formats;
  • work collaboratively with students from Georgia, Russia, and Germany towards solutions for previously identified challenges connected to a case study.
After completing the course, you…
  • know new terminology that allows you to talk about issues relevant for peace studies & conflict resolution in more differentiated ways.
  • will have gained a good overview of actors in the field of international conflict(resolution), on particular forms of organization (networks, movements) of those actors and of typical approaches to conflict resolution.
  • can critically reflect on conflict resolution measures taken in a particular conflict.
General Competences
  • You will gain proficiency in Academic English, including reading texts, watching videos and writing texts;
  • You will acquire competencies related to group activity, including collective preparation of a fact-sheet and text-based group discussion;
  • By the end of the course, you will have enhanced essential academic skills; such as searching for relevant information, providing information in a concise and accessible form, and developing arguments in response to assigned topics and questions.
MAJOR TOPICS
  • Essential definitions, concepts, and theory of peace and conflict study/conflict resolution
  • Organizations, actors and networks in international conflicts
  • Tracks of intervention and critical approaches to conflict resolution
TEXTS AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Required Reading:
  • Ho-Won Jeong, Peace and Conflict Studies: An introduction; Part 1, Chapters 1,2; pp. 21-25
  • Tilly Charles, The politics of collective violence, Chapter 3
  • Jollie Demmers, Theories of Violent Conflict; Chapter 3, pp. 57- 65
  • documentary, Bringing Down a dictator, (Steve York, 2002)
  • Jollie Demmers, Theories of Violent Conflict; Chapter 1: pp. 21-39
  • documentary, The Death of Yugoslavia (Norma Percy, BBC, 1995) and write 500-word essay analyzing role of ethnicity (nationalism) in conflict.
  • Ho-Won Jeong, Peace and Conflict Studies: An introduction; Chapters 17, pp.206-217
  • McAdam, Doug, and Sidney Tarrow (2000). “Nonviolence as Contentious Interaction,” Political Science and Politics 33/2 (June): 149-154.
  • Gurr, Ted Robert (2000). “Nonviolence in Ethnopolitics: Strategies for the Attainment of Group Rights and Autonomy,” Political Science and Politics 33/2 (June): 155-160.
  • Seidman, Gay W. (2000). “Blurred Lines: Nonviolence in South Africa,” PS: Political Science and Politics 33/2 (June): 161-167.
  • Ramsbotham, O., Miall, H., & Woodhouse, T. (Ed.) (2016): Contemporary Conflict Resolution. Cambridge: Polity Press; p. 3-37.
  • Ramsbotham, O., Miall, H., & Woodhouse, T. (Ed.) (2016): Contemporary Conflict Resolution. Cambridge: Polity Press; p. 471-486.

Secondary Literature:
  • Jollie Demmers, Theories of Violent Conflict, 2nd edition; (2017); Introduction, pp. 1-19
  • Ho-Won Jeong, Peace and Conflict Studies: An introduction; Part 1: Chapters 3, pp.36-40; Part 2:Chapters 5,6,7,8,9; pp. 49-80
  • Paul Brass, Gujarat Pogrom of 2002; https://therearenosunglasses.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/the-gujarat-pogrom-of-2002/
  • Weber, T. (2003). “Nonviolence Is Who? Gene Sharp and Gandhi.” Peace & Change, 28(2), 250–270.
  • Ackermann, A. (2003): The idea and practice of conflict prevention. Journal of Peace Research, 40(3), 339-347.
  • Lund, M. S. (2009): Conflict prevention. Theory in pursuit of policy and practice. In: Bercovitch, J., Kremenyuk, V., & Zartman, I. W. (Eds.): The SAGE handbook of conflict resolution. Sage Publications; p. 287-321.
  • Documentary, The Death of Yugoslavia (Norma Percy, BBC, 1995) and write 500-word essay analyzing role of ethnicity (nationalism) in conflict
  • Ho-Won Jeong, Peace and Conflict Studies: An introduction; Chapters 17, pp.206-217
  • McAdam, Doug, and Sidney Tarrow (2000). “Nonviolence as Contentious Interaction,” Political Science and Politics 33/2 (June): 149-154.
  • Gurr, Ted Robert (2000). “Nonviolence in Ethnopolitics: Strategies for the Attainment of Group Rights and Autonomy,” Political Science and Politics 33/2 (June): 155-160.
  • Seidman, Gay W. (2000). “Blurred Lines: Nonviolence in South Africa,” PS: Political Science and Politics 33/2 (June): 161-167.
  • Ramsbotham, O., Miall, H., & Woodhouse, T. (Ed.) (2016): Contemporary Conflict Resolution. Cambridge: Polity Press; p. 3-37.
  • Ramsbotham, O., Miall, H., & Woodhouse, T. (Ed.) (2016): Contemporary Conflict Resolution. Cambridge: Polity Press; p. 471-486.
Secondary Literature:
  • Jollie Demmers, Theories of Violent Conflict, 2nd edition; (2017); Introduction, pp. 1-19
  • Ho-Won Jeong, Peace and Conflict Studies: An introduction; Part 1: Chapters 3, pp.36-40; Part 2:Chapters 5,6,7,8,9; pp. 49-80
  • Paul Brass, Gujarat Pogrom of 2002; https://therearenosunglasses.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/the-gujarat-pogrom-of-2002/
  • Weber, T. (2003). “Nonviolence Is Who? Gene Sharp and Gandhi.” Peace & Change, 28(2), 250–270.
  • Ackermann, A. (2003): The idea and practice of conflict prevention. Journal of Peace Research, 40(3), 339-347.
  • Lund, M. S. (2009): Conflict prevention. Theory in pursuit of policy and practice. In: Bercovitch, J., Kremenyuk, V., & Zartman, I. W. (Eds.): The SAGE handbook of conflict resolution. Sage Publications; p. 287-321.
  • Van der Stoel, M. (1999): The role of the OSCE high commissioner in conflict prevention. In:  Crocker, C. A., Hampson, F. O., & Aall, P. R. (Eds.): Herding cats. Multiparty mediation in a complex world. US Institute of Peace Press; p. 67-83an der Stoel, M. (1999): The role of the OSCE high commissioner in conflict prevention. In:  Crocker, C. A., Hampson, F. O., & Aall, P. R. (Eds.): Herding cats. Multiparty mediation in a complex world. US Institute of Peace Press; p. 67-83
COURSE SCHEDULE
  1. Key definitions, concepts and theory relevant to the course
  2. types of violent conflicts
  3. culture & conflict; culture in conflict
  4. non-violent conflict
  5. networks & mobilization
  6. organizations; social media; IT-technologies;    
  7. Mid-term exam
  8. transnational & global networks & movements
  9. interstate – intrastate – regional – local level conflicts
  10. Key terms of International Conflict Management conflict transformation (actors, at different scale, public diplomacy)
  11. Tracks of intervention; conflict resolution approaches
  12. Conflict prevention
  13. Conclusion and outlook; critical perspectives on conflict resolution and peace studies
  14. Final exam
   

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