MVE436 Peace and Conflict Studies

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2003
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Carlos Juárez, Ph.D. (lecturer), PhDr. Pavel Pšeja, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Pavel Pšeja, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Timetable
Mon 10:00–11:40 U31, Wed 10:00–11:40 U31
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives (in Czech)
A course that highlights the changing nature of war and peace in a new world era. It examines a variety of approaches to preventing and managing international conflict in the post-Cold War world. It explores issues such as preventative diplomacy, negotiation, third-party resolution, track-two diplomacy, and evolving collective security arrangements. The course also analyzes the institutions, both official and nongovernmental, that engage in peacemaking, and provides detailed case studies of conflict management and dispute resolution. Peacemaking issues are examined from a variety of perspectives, including conflict prevention, conflict management and resolution, and post-settlement reconstruction and reconciliation. The course offers a valuable and timely opportunity to explore the many issues and problems in making the transition from an ill-defined post-Cold War world into a world defined by a war against global terrorism.
Syllabus (in Czech)
  • 1. Introduction to course: war and peace in a new world era (Sept 29) No assigned readings 2. Expaining conflict and peacemaking: the "levels of analysis" in international relations (Oct 1) Readings: Jack Levy, "Theories of Interstate and Intrastate War: A Levels-of-Analysis Approach," in Turbulent Peace: The Challenges of Mediating International Conflict, edited by Chester A. Crocker, Fen Osler Hampson, and Pamela R. Aall. Washington, DC, USA: United States Institute of Peace Press, 2001. ISBN: 1-929223-27-7 [hereafter Turbulent Peace] Madeline K. Albright, "Bridges, Bombs, or Bluster?" Foreign Affairs, 82, no. 5 (Sept/Oct 2003). 3. Systemic level sources of conflict (Oct 6) Readings: Charles A. Kupchan, "Empires and Geopolitical Competition: Gone for Good?," in Turbulent Peace. Phil Williams, "Transnational Criminal Enterprises, Conflict, and Instability," in Turbulent Peace. 4. States and Societies (Oct 8) Readings: Mohammed Ayoob, "State Making, State Breaking, and State Failure," in Turbulent Peace. Ted Robert Gurr, "Minorities and Nationalists: Managing Ethnopolitical Conflict in the New Century," in Turbulent Peace. 5. Leadership or lack thereof (Oct 13) Readings: John Stoessinger, "The War Lover: Saddam Hussein's Two Wars in the Persian Gulf," from Why Nations Go To War, 8th edition. Belmont, California USA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2001. 6. Intervention strategies and their consequences (Oct 15) Readings: Edward N. Luttwak, "Give War a Chance." Foreign Affairs 78, no. 4 (July/Aug 1999). Joseph S. Nye, Jr., "Soft Power and Conflict Management in the Information Age," in Turbulent Peace. 7. Negotiation, mediation, and other political instruments (Oct 20) Readings: Fen Osler Hampson, "Parent, Midwife, or Accidental Executioner?," in Turbulent Peace. 8. Institutions and regimes of security and conflict management (Oct 22) Readings: David S. Yost, "NATO's Contribution to Conflict Management," in Turbulent Peace. Mary B. Anderson, "Humanitarian NGO's in Conflict Intervention," in Turbulent Peace. 9. Post-conflict challenges (Oct 27) Readings: Nicole Ball, "The Challenge of Rebuilding War-Torn Societies," in Turbulent Peace. 10. Peacebuilding: from settlement to reconciliation (Oct 29) Readings: Timothy D. Sisk, "Democratization and Peacebuilding: Perils and Promises," in Turbulent Peace. Additional readings of current world politics will come from the weekly The Economist and daily New York Times.
Assessment methods (in Czech)
COURSE ASSESSMENT Course grades will be figured on a 100 point scale, with a minimum of 60 points to receive credit. The course will be assessed as follows: 25% Attendance and Participation 25% Short Paper 25% Group Project 25% Final Exam A. Attendance and Participation (25%) Twenty percent of the grade will be based on regular attendance and active participation throughout the course (please note that unexcused absences will be reflected clearly in the final course grade). Classroom discussion and participation will form an integral part of the course, and students will be expected to develop the ability to think clearly and critically, to ask significant questions, and to express their ideas in a logical concise manner B. Short Paper (25%) Each student is required to one short summary and analysis paper. The paper will be a summary and analysis of any individual reading from the course list. The paper should be approximately 3-4 pages long (about 750-1000 words), typed, double-spaced, in English, and in a normal-sized font (11-13 pt.). The first half should a summary of key points in the article - a "summary" or straightforward descriptive restatement of the main issue(s), in your own words, using a few brief quotes if needed. The second half of the paper is your analysis/reaction/commentary - what is the significance of the issue? What are its implications? Do you find any argument or evidence compelling? Agree or disagree? Why or why not? In other words, what are own thoughts about the issue you describe in the summary section. The paper is due on Wednesday, October 15. Late papers, without prior approval, are penalized. C. Group Project (25%) The class will be divided into five groups of 4-5 students per group, and each group will be responsible for a research project relevant to the course and pre-approved by the instructor. Each group will select a topic - for example, a conflict or peace-related issue - research relevant information (background, context, key actors and institutions, and any lessons learned), write up a short one-page executive summary, and present the findings to the class in a brief 10 minute oral presentation. D. Final Exam (25%) Students will complete a final exam in the form of a take-home assignment to consist of 3 or 4 short questions and one short essay selected from a list of 3 or 4. The exam will be made available to the class on Monday, October 20, and is due at the start of class Monday, October 27. Further details on course assignments will be given in class. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with the instructor if they need any additional clarification. Please note that improvement throughout the course will be rewarded in the final grade. Evidence of inadequate preparation, on the other hand, will also be reflected very strongly in the final grade.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught only once.
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