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.
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
Key definitions, concepts and theory relevant to the course
types of violent conflicts
culture & conflict; culture in conflict
non-violent conflict
networks & mobilization
organizations; social media; IT-technologies;
Mid-term exam
transnational & global networks & movements
interstate – intrastate – regional – local level conflicts
Key terms of International Conflict Management conflict transformation (actors, at different scale, public diplomacy)
Tracks of intervention; conflict resolution approaches
Conflict prevention
Conclusion and outlook; critical perspectives on conflict resolution and peace studies