CDSn4001:
Conflict
Analysis
Conflict resolution
November 29, 2022
Miriam Matejova, PhD
Agenda
• Final exam: dates and guidelines
• How do we end wars? How should we
end wars?
Final exam
• a written test (online)
• five questions - answer four of your choice
• short answers
• Concepts, theories, linkages
• Each answer will be worth 10 points for a total
of 40 points. The exam will cover the required
(not recommended) literature and lectures.
Final exam
• Answer the question
• Explain your answer (don’t assume the reader knows what
you are talking about)
– If you make a statement, explain its logic, why you believe the
statement is true
• Define key terms
• Correctly link the authors to their theories/arguments
• Provide accurate examples and explain how the examples
fit the theory
• Do NOT copy/paste text into your answers and reference
your sources!
• Answer the question
Exam rubric
• 9-10: Extraordinary answers—will include everything in a
‘7-8' answer but there is something ‘extra’ that really sets it
apart (e.g., making links between themes/weeks/concepts
from other courses, incredible balance/presenting of both
sides of argument evidence of engagement with literature,
etc.).
• 7-8: Solid answers—key terms defined, question answered
in a clear and structured way with evidence of an analytical
approach of some kind (engaging in a critique of practice
using concepts/ideas from class—not just saying ‘it didn’t
work’ if discussing a policy but bringing in concepts from
class). Links to cases (if relevant) clearly explained. For
example, don't just say ‘negotiated settlements don’t work
as happened in country X’. You should explain why the
settlement didn’t work in that particular context.
Exam rubric (cont.)
• 5-6: Answer is mostly descriptive. Key terms are
provided and, if applicable, the case study is evidence
of these ideas, but there is no analysis of any of the
types described above OR the analysis really doesn’t
make sense.
• 3-4: No real answer to the question and no analysis.
The student has primarily just written down everything
they know about the topic. There are some
inaccuracies and/or gaps.
• 1-2: No real answer to the question. Many or most
terms are incorrectly defined if used at all. Inaccuracies
in theories, authors, concepts, etc.
• 0: No answer.
Conflict resolution
• Why do we
study causes of
conflict?
• How do we
bring on peace?
Achieving negative peace
• Peacemaking
• Efforts to bring the conflict parties to a peace settlement –
through negotiations, mediation, etc.
• Peacekeeping
• Deployment of peacekeeping forces to separate and monitor the
conflict parties
• Peace enforcement
• The use of force or threat of force, which will force the states or
groups to stop fighting.
Achieving positive peace
•Peacebuilding
•Focus on social, political and economic
structures that cause conflict
•Goal is to build a constructive relationship
between conflict parties to prevent the return
of violence.
•Many different strategies: partition,
powersharing, cooptation, atď.
Discussion
• Peacekeeping: good or evil? Needed or not?
• What’s the difference between ending
international vs civil wars?
Credible commitment theory
• Parties don’t reach cooperative solutions,
because they can’t commit themselves
credibly to act (in advance) in agreed ways.
– Actor’s promise to behave cooperatively might not
be believed by others if promises cannot be
enforced.
– Actors make promises but have no intention of
upholding them, or
– An actor may sincerely want to promise to
cooperate, but in the future, it may be rational to
break a promise if an opportunity arises.
How to make commitments credible?
• Make reneging on the agreement costly by
raising the political costs of defection
– Audience costs – sovereign states raise their
audience costs if they want to increase the
credibility of their commitments