MVZ404 Theories of Conflict, War and Peace in IR

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 14 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Chovančík, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Timetable
Wed 12:00–13:30 U43
Prerequisites (in Czech)
Schopnost číst v anglickém jazyce.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course deals with theory of conflict and theory of war and peace. Following the interpretation of the general theory of conflict and the issue of armed conflicts in international relations and their prevention, the emphasis will be placed on issues of war and peace in the theory of international relations. Students will also get to know the theoretical concepts of the revolution in military affairs. The war will be studied in all its aspects. The course will provide an overview of main theories dealing with armed conflicts, war and peace, the typology of war conflicts, reflection of war and peace in international law, regulation methods of war conflicts, problems associated with the conduct of humanitarian interventions and the revolution in military affairs.
Aims: understanding the theory used in the research of peace and war, improving the ability of students to apply this theory in research, the definition of the main differences between the different theoretical schools.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction into the issue - the interpretation of the basic terms (conflict, war, peace, etc.), assignment of the “position papers” topics, introduction of the anticipated parameters of the analytical studies and introduction of the special literature.
  • 2. Conflicts in international relations and their research.
  • 3. Discussion of the concepts of analytical studies.
  • 4. Preventing the outbreak of conflicts and the post-conflict reconstruction.
  • 5. The role of international organizations in conflict resolution.
  • 6. Discussion of the position paper No. 1.
  • 7. Theory on the causes of war I.
  • 8. Theory on the causes of war II.
  • 9. The war against terrorism, the theoretical reflection of the international terrorism and the options of combating terrorism.
  • 10. Concepts of revolution in military affairs.
  • 11. Discussion of the position paper No. 2.
  • 12. The presentation of the remaining presentations and general discussion.
  • 13. Credit written test.
Literature
  • WALLENSTEEN, Peter. Understanding conflict resolution : war, peace and the global system. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications. iv, 311. ISBN 9781412928595. 2007. URL info
  • GRAY, Colin S. War, peace and international relations : an introduction to strategic history. 1st pub. London: Routledge. xiv, 306. ISBN 9780415386395. 2007. info
  • BAYLIS, John. Strategy in the contemporary world : an introduction to strategic studies. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press. xiii, 357. ISBN 019878273X. 2002. info
  • TOFFLER, Alvin and Heidi TOFFLER. Válka a antiválka : jak porozumět dnešnímu globálnímu chaosu. Translated by Bohuslav Blažek - Jan Miřejovský. 1. vyd. Praha: Dokořán a Argo. 303 s. ISBN 8072034456. 2002. info
Assessment methods
Lectures serve exclusively only as an introduction into the issue of the course. It is assumed that the main part of the subject matter will be managed through self-studying of the special literature. During the course students have to elaborate, defend and hand over two “position papers” to the given literature, one or two presentations (to be confirmed according to the number of students), write one analytical study on the ahead given topic, and pass a written test (success rate 60 %) consisting of the compulsory literature.
Teaching methods: lectures, elaboration of essays, position papers and presentations, study of the literature.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2009, recent)
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