Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società

 This course aims to: 

- equip students with a good understanding of critical issues in peace and conflict studies. 

- encourage students to overcome mainstream perspectives on violent conflict; 

- enable students to better analyze violent conflict by adopting non state-centric perspectives; 

- provide students with operative tools aimed at conflict prevention.

The Great Lakes region of Africa and of Northern Ireland will serve as case-studies.

 

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to critically assess current approaches to peace and conflict issues. They will be able to critically review the current conflict prevention and monitoring techniques and programmes, to analyse the transnational dynamics of contemporary conflicts, and to use key concepts related to gender and conflicts. They will grasp the theoretical, methodological, but also policy challenges related to these issues.

The course is built around various lectures, videos, exercises and discussions. The lectures address conceptual, theoretical and practical problems related to the three main issues that are covered, and exemplify them by using empirical case studies. The videos, exercises and discussions provide the opportunity to add empirical substance and to discuss the topics in greater detail.

Attenzione: studenti e studentesse che dovessero ancora sostenere l'esame dell'insegnamento non più attivo nell'anno accademico 2020-21 sono invitati/e a prendere contatto con il professor Stefano Ruzza.

The students will apply the acquired knowledge and skills to the preparation of two types of written essays:

- first, a short essay (around 500 words) per teaching block, answering a question on one of the additional readings (see dedicated block sections on Moodle) 

- second, an essay of a maximum of 2,000 words. The essay should demonstrate the student’s ability to carry out effective research, their analytical skills, and their ability to present an informed and well-written argument. The essay, whose research question will be agreed with the course convenor, should address one of the themes discussed in class. Guidelines for preparing and handing in the essay will be uploaded on Moodle.

Block 1. Conflict Prevention and Early Warning (18 hours). It will cover the following themes: a) The concept of conflict prevention; b) The actors of conflict prevention; c) Military approaches to conflict prevention; d) Preventive diplomacy; e) Development & governance approaches; f) Mechanisms of conflict escalation; g) Early warning systems; h) Examples of early warning systems; i) Monitoring of conflicts & intervention.

Block 2. Transnational Dimensions of Conflicts (18 hours). It will cover the following themes: a) External dimensions of conflicts & conflict theories; b) Transnational criminality & conflicts; c) Conflict spillover; d) Transnational militants & insurgencies; e) Transnational issues (climate change, arms trafficking) & conflicts; f) Refugees, diasporas & conflict escalation; g) Diasporas, conflict transportation & autonomization; h) Refugees, IDPs, diasporas & peace building.

Block 3: Gender and Conflicts (18 hours). It will cover the following themes: a) Nexus between gender, ethnicity & power; b) Gender, conflict prevention & conflict escalation; c) Gender roles during conflicts; d) Gender violence, conflict & the body; e) Gender, forced migration & displacement; f) Gender & peacekeeping; g) Gender & peace negotiations; h) Gender in SSR & DDR programmes; i) Gender, transitional justice & reconstruction.

Block 1. Conflict Prevention and Early Warning – Compulsory Reading

• Ackermann Alice (2003), “The Idea and Practice of Conflict Prevention”, Journal of Peace Research, 40(3): 339-47.
• Griffin Michele (2001), “A Stitch in Time: Making the Case for Conflict Prevention”, Security Dialogue, 32(4): 481-496.
• Micah and Friedman, Rebecca R. (2011) “UN Early Warning for Preventing Conflict”, International Peacekeeping, 18(1): 21-37.
• Schmeidl Susanne, Jenkins Craig (1998), “The Early Warning of Humanitarian Disasters: Problems in Building an Early Warning System”, International Migration Review, 32(2): 471-486.

 

Block 2. Transnational Dimensions of Conflicts – Compulsory Reading

• Adamson Fiona (2005), “Globalization, Transnational Political Mobilization, and Networks of Violence”, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 18(1): 35-53.
• Cornell Svante (2007), “Narcotics and Armed Conflict: Interaction and Implications”, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 30: 207–227.
• Féron Élise (2017) “Transporting and Re-Inventing Conflicts: Conflict-Generated Diasporas and Conflict Autonomisation”, Cooperation and Conflict, 52(3): 360-376.
• Gleditsch Kristian Skrede (2007), “Transnational Dimensions of Civil War”, Journal of Peace Research,44(3): 293-309.

 

Block 3: Gender and Conflicts – Compulsory Reading 

• Alison Miranda (2004), “Women as Agents of Political Violence: Gendering Security”, Security Dialogue, 35(4): 447-463.
• Buss, Doris E. (2009), “Rethinking ‘Rape as a Weapon of War’.” Feminist Legal Studies 17: 145-63.
• Carpenter R. Charli (2006), “Recognizing Gender-Based Violence against Men and Boys in Conflict Situations”, Security Dialogue, 37(1): 83-103.
• Mobekk Eirin (2010), “Gender, Women and Security Sector Reform”, International Peacekeeping, 17(2): 278-291.

 

Additional references in the teaching materials