SVF-3021 Integrated Peace and Conflict Studies - 20 stp

The course focuses on some of the important philosophical and theoretical debates regarding violence, peace and peace research. These provide the foundation for the analysis of peace, violence, and conflict management and resolution in a historical and political perspective.

The course is an introduction to the field of peace and conflict studies. It illuminates key philosophical issues and problems connected with peace research in a contemporary global context. It emphasises theoretical approaches and historical issues needed to analyse various aspects of conflict, violence and peace, as they manifest themselves in the contemporary global order. The course is divided into two distinct, but related components: (i) Peace Studies: Philosophy, Theory and Epistemology, and (ii) The Western Global Order: Philosophical, Historical and Theoretical Perspectives.

Specific topics addressed include the following: Introduction to Peace Studies - nature of cross-disciplinarity, negative and positive peace, normative and positive peace; Western Global Order. (i) Rise of the early modern state, the modern state and the state, nation and nation-state building, the society of states, (ii) Introduction to political economy, Liberal and Marxist perspectives, (iii) Peace and the legal system, international law and human rights; (iv) Case studies: Social conflicts and revolutions in a historical perspective, The peace of Versailles 1919, the Eritrean and Ethiopian war, 1998-2000, and Arctic Europe (Russia and Norway).

Students who have successfully completed the course should have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

• Have an overview and understanding of the broad issues and philosophical debates underlying the field of peace and conflict studies
• Become familiar with the core concepts and theories in peace and conflict studies
• Have an understanding of peace and conflict studies as a distinct and an applied field of study

Analytical understanding:

• Have the ability to critically review the nature and causes of inter-personal, inter-group and inter-state conflicts and the related peace-building strategies
• Have the ability to critically reflect on the evolution and operations of Western political institutions and issues raised with their use in the contemporary global order
• Have the ability to critically review the international political economy - ideologies and attitudes towards violent conflicts, war and peace
• Have the ability to review the interplay between international law, regional bodies (EU) and peace

Skills and competences:

• Capable of exploring the contextual issues underlying conflict sources, processes and transformation conflict of violent conflicts
• Capable of exploring competing perspectives on violent conflicts and resolution, including non-western ways of understanding and responding to conflict
• Capable of relating theoretical and methodological frameworks from a variety of disciplines to violent conflicts and peace processes at all levels of human interaction (inter-personal, national and international)
• Capable of taking responsibility for one's own learning by working independently towards the realization of the course objectives

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.

Approx. 1500 pages.

Available at Fronter or from the student advisor.