Approaches to Conflict and Violence - JPM704

• Title: Approaches to Conflict and Violence
• Guaranteed by: Department of Security Studies (23-KBS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023 to 2023
• Semester: both
• E-Credits: 6
• Hours per week, examination: 2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: winter:120 / unknown (45); summer:unknown / unknown (45)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan; you can enroll for the course in winter and in summer semester
• Guarantor: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

English

Last update: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D. (25.01.2024)

The course aims at introducing main concepts, themes and processes related to violence and armed conflicts. The composition of the course is divided into to main parts. The first half introduces general conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of thinking about peace, conflict and violence. In this respect, specific attention will be paid to issues like the micro-dynamics of violence, the role of gender in conflicts, the impact of natural resources and the reflection of the environment in contemplations about conflicts and war. The rest of the course tackles issues connected to armed conflicts. First the typology of political and armed conflicts is introduced, followed by the reflection on the origins of conflict and conflict prevention. Other topics include the role of non-violence in a political conflict, methods of conflict management and resolution, intractable conflicts and post-conflict reconstruction.

Moodle: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=7530

Aim of the course

Last update: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D. (25.01.2024)

The course revolves around the concept of conflict, focusing especially on its violent forms. The opening lectures present important milestones in the development of the conceptualization of conflict and security, and outline basic theoretical perspectives on the role of conflict in politics and social relations, including the process of construction of security threats. The rest of the course tackles specific conflict-related issues, mostly those connected to armed conflicts. First the typology of political and armed conflicts is introduced, followed by the reflection on the origins of conflict, conflict prevention, management and resolution, intractable conflicts and post-conflict reconstruction. Remaining topics include the role natural resources in armed conflicts and the challenges of non-violent resistance in a political conflict.  

Descriptors

Last update: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D. (25.01.2024)

Viz výše soubor se sylabem kurzu / See the file containing the course syllabus above.

  

Course completion requirements

Last update: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D. (29.01.2024)

Mid-term exam (30 %):

The goal of the mid-term exam is to stimulate students to think out-of-the-box when applying the concepts used during the previous lectures in an analysis of a movie selected by the course convenor. The film will be made available in advance for all students to see. On 9 April 2024, students will be given an assignment in Moodle where they will also write their answers thereto. The answers will be subsequently reviewed and graded by the tutors.

 

Group policy paper (30 %):

By the end of October, students will be divided into working groups. All working groups will then be assigned the same topic: how to solve a selected on-going real-world conflict. Each working group will be assigned a shared document where it will eventually present the policy paper. The structure of the policy paper should include (but does not by any means have to be limited to) an introduction into the topic, an analysis of the main challenges and a final set of recommendations. Expected length of the paper is 1500 words. References to sources are expected. All papers will need to be finalized by  25 April 2024. Subsequently, they will be reviewed by the course tutors and jointly reflected upon at the session on December 19.

 

Final written exam (40 %)

The final written exam takes the form of two extensive essays (out of three suggested topics) on the themes presented throughout the semester as well as contained in required readings. The tasks will be formulated in a form which will require the application of horizontal thinking across the concepts dealt with in the course and the ability to present original argumentation supported by relevant facts and information from the readings. The exam will be written in Moodle (as an equivalent of an in-class exam) – several terms will be provided throughout the exam period in May and June 2024.

 

Evaluation is performed in accordance to the Dean’s Provision.   

Literature

Last update: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D. (25.01.2024)

• • Butler, Michael J.: International Conflict Management. Routledge, 2009.
  • Chenoweth, Erica – Stephan, Maria J.:Why Civil Resistence Works: The Strategic Logic of Non-Violent Conflict. Columbia University Press, 2012.
  • Darby, John – Mac Ginty, Roger (eds.): Contemporary Peacemaking: Conflict, Peace Process and Post-War Reconstruction (2^nd edition). Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.
  • Dayton, Bruce W. – Kriesberg, Louis (eds.): Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding: Moving from Violence to Sustainable Peace. Rouledge, 2009.
  • Hufbauer, Gary Clyde et al. (eds): Economic Sanctions Reconsidered (3^rd edition). Peterson Institute for International Economics, 2007.
  • Jeong, Ho-Won: Conflict Management and Resolution: An Introduction. Routledge, 2010.
  • Rioux, Jean-François – Neufeld Redekop, Vern: Introduction to Conflict Studies: Empirical, Theoretical and Ethical Dimensions. Oxford University Press.
  • Wallensteen, Peter: Understanding Conflict Resolution. War, Peace and the Global System (3^rd edition). SAGE Publications, 2012. 
  • Webel, Charles P. – Johansen, Jørgen (eds.): Peace and Conflict Studies: A Reader. Routledge, 2012.
  • Zartman, I William: Negotiation and Conflict Management: Essays on Theory and Practice. Routledge, 2008. 

See https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=7530 for reading materials.   

Teaching methods

Last update: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D. (29.01.2024)

The core of the course consists of lectures presented by its convenor that gradually guide the students through the domain of conflict, covering its various characteristics and presenting it from different perspectives. In the mid-semester exam, students will be asked to provide reflection on a selected movie with a strong conflict-related element, using acquired knowledge from the previous lectures and required readings. The latter part of the course will ask students to cooperate in working groups, producing a policy paper to provide recommendations on a selected conflict. The whole sum of acquired knowledge will finally be tested through the final written exam. For completing the course, it is essential to read the required texts, participate in the mid-term and final exams and in group work. Participation in lectures is not obligatory but it is expected and highly recommended. 

 

Syllabus

Last update: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D. (20.02.2024)

• Between war and positive peace: conceptual reflection of conflict and peaceful coexistence
• Conflict and securitization: how threats are born
• The concept of conflict and typology of armed conflicts
• Origins of conflict and methods of conflict prevention
• Material underpinnings: natural resources and armed conflicts
• Conflict management: pacific procedures, sanctions and military instruments
• Mid-term exam
• Traditional and innovative methods of conflict resolution
• Wars without end and the dilemmas of post-conflict reconstruction
• Better than arms? Non-violence as a method of waging conflict
• Group work evaluation 

Entry requirements

Last update: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D. (25.01.2024)

Viz výše soubor se sylabem kurzu / See the file containing the course syllabus above. 

Registration requirements

Last update: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D. (25.01.2024)

Viz výše soubor se sylabem kurzu / See the file containing the course syllabus above.