MVZb2061 Enemy Image and the Political Psychology of Conflicts in IR

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Maya Higgins, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 12:00–13:40 U32
Prerequisites
! MVZb2026 The Politics of Enmity
Proficiency in English to an academic standard. Background in the field of Political Psychology or Peace and Conflict studies is helpful, but not required.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The field of Peace and Conflict Studies is highly interdisciplinary. Much of its foundational theory (and practice) draws on psychology, thus providing an empirically grounded perspective on intra/interpersonal and intra/intergroup conflicts. The analysis of visual and other representations (the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way) is central to the fields of anthropology, sociology and cultural studies. Such representations are cultural productions, derived from ideologies, values and beliefs of the culture which produced and consumes them. Moreover, representations are produced within a political environment, where the issues of class, gender, power and social order are present. As such, the analysis of representations and image formation is essential when conflicts are concerned. By focusing on the portrayal of the adversary (‘Enemy Image’), this course will explore the intersection of political psychology and international relations when conflicts are concerned. Since it is impossible to cover the entire field in one semester, this course is designed as a curated overview including both theory and application, aimed to open up new lines of inquiry and provide inspiration for future research. The course is composed of two parts: We begin the semester by defining, exploring, and discussing relevant concept and theories (in-group and out-group, Enemy Image, Social Categorization, Scapegoating, Dehumanization, etc.). These are used as a launching pad, from which we investigate the landscape of political psychology pertaining to conflicts in IR. In the second part of the course, we turn to the depiction of adversaries in specific political conflicts spanning over time (past and present) and geographical locations. Such Conflicts include the Northern Ireland conflict ('The Troubles'), the Cold War, the Winter War, and the Israeli Palestinian conflict. In order to stay true to the nature of the field, this course is designed to be interdisciplinary. As such, the mandatory reading is deliberately eclectic, employing a wide array of research traditions, and a diverse set of methodologies.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will exhibit a broad and deep understanding of: • The social and political environments in which conflicts materialize and are sustained. • The role of enemy image in cultivating conflict and its contribution to the conflict’s intractability, both generally and specifically. • The way individual and cultural differences can affect conflict dynamics. • Theoretical, empirical, and practical connections across disciplines. In addition, students will improve their ability to: • Apply theory to specific test cases and discuss the challenges of conflict at multiple levels. • Notice one’s own personal attitudes toward, assumptions about, and responses to ‘the enemy’ (real or imagined) and reflect on how this can affect conflicts and conflict resolution.
Syllabus
  • An interactive syllabus will be provided to registered students via the IS.
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions and group projects (presentations).
Assessment methods
This is a fail/pass course. A passing grade will be given to students based on: 1. One short quiz (midterm). 2. Collaborative Presentations (in groups). 3. A Term paper, based on the collaborative presentation. *** A passing grade requires the successful completion of ALL assignments.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2021/MVZb2061