The aim of this module is to allow students to develop an advanced and critical understanding of theoretical and empirical perspectives on conflict, peace and security. The module examines key concepts and theoretical perspectives on peace and security, models of conflict analysis, conflict resolution and peace building, including contending theories of International Relations. It also inquires into military and non-military sources of insecurity as related to global, regional and national/state levels and the ensuing debates on human security. Conflict analysis is approached through the lenses of policy/practice based strategic conflict assessment methods, including such theoretical perspectives as structural and proximate/dynamic causes, conflict dynamics, needs-based conflict origins, rational, strategic calculation and analysis of social-psychological processes. Furthermore, the course deals with concepts such as positive peace, a culture of peace, and the major approaches to conflict resolution and transformation/ peace building. Students will have on average two lectures every day, followed by discussion seminars.
- Teacher: Joao Gomes Porto
The seminar “Human Rights and Peace” will discuss the conceptual underpinnings of human rights and peace as a strategy to recognize the relationship between human rights, peace, security and development. In addition, the seminar will distinguish the contexts of human security, state security, and international security in reference to human rights and the African political economy. Further to this, the seminar will assess the most recent developments in the field to analyze and develop a better understanding and critique the African problems in these areas.
The Seminar on “Gender and Peace” will focus on the issue of gender as a broad and inclusive concept of both sexes. It is concerned with the way in which gender, peace, peace building, and conflict transformation intersect. Gender is recognized as a key cross-cutting concern for peace and security in most African regions. In many countries, the extent of gender-based violence during conflicts and its persistence during periods of peace has forced the issue of gender and security into policy formulation and research on peace and security.
- Teacher: Habtamu Wondimu
The course consists of two blocks the first one focusing on the nexus of peace and development and the second one focusing on African experiences on conflict management. This first block will introduce the relationship between peace and sustainable development, beginning with a review of the contending theories of liberal peace and developmental state concepts for peace. The course will try to visit some of the perceived causes and consequences of intra-state conflicts in the context of the Horn of Africa. The assumption is that many of the primary causes of conflict are related to the question of sustainable development, share of natural resources and/or access to natural resources. Claims over territories, access to the sea and transit corridors, and competition over the use of natural resources like trans- boundary water resources are examples of such perceived causes of conflicts. In this respect the course will limit itself to cover the management and development of some shared resources like trans-boundary water resources, access to the sea and the development of transit corridors. Problems associated with divided communities, cross border criminality including threats of terrorism will also be discussed. In this regard cross border economic cooperation, criminal control and early warning including response mechanism will be investigated as ways of enhancing peace and development in border areas. The courses will also broadly overview the link between environment and security. The second block covers the practice of conflict management and transformation as fields of theoretical inquiry and research in African context. The block will broadly cover the concepts of conflict resolution, negotiation, peacemaking and peace building with particular focus on African experiences.
The module defines concepts, meanings, and the overall notions of peace and security. It is designed to engage students in an examination of the major contemporary theories and conceptual challenges of peace and security; theoretical understanding of sources of conflict and violence. It is meant to provide a general and critical overview of peace and security theories, thereby arming students with useful analytical tools for the analysis of actual conflicts, in Africa and elsewhere in the world. The first half of the module focuses on theoretical assumption and its implications and the second half, on the discovery and application of methods. Participants in the module will engage critically with various theories and methods of Peace and Security. They will develop their understandings of the theoretical resources available in the area of peace and security studies as well as their capacity for putting theory into practice. This foundation module provides an opportunity to explore connections between the challenges and approaches identified in many different disciplines from a “wide – angle” perspective that will encourage students to continue making interdisciplinary connections and analyses throughout their tenure at the Institute and in their professional academic or professional endeavours.
- Teacher: Yonas Adaye Adeto
The course provides an introduction to methods of scientific work and equips students with writing and presentation skills. As such, it aims at making students familiar with the main tools needed for successful participation in the lectures and seminars of the coming two years of their studies within the MA programme Global studies with a special emphasis on peace and security in Africa. During the block seminar students will learn about fundamental rules of academic writing and basic techniques of presentation.