20673 - POLITICS OF CONFLICT
Department of Social and Political Sciences
Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 31
CLMG (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - M (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - IM (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - MM (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - AFC (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - CLELI (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - ACME (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - DES-ESS (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - EMIT (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - GIO (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - DSBA (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - PPA (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - FIN (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04) - AI (6 credits - I sem. - OP | SPS/04)
Course Director:
ALA ALRABABAH
ALA ALRABABAH
Suggested background knowledge
A basic knowledge of International Relations and Conflict Studies could be helpful. Students who have no prior knowledge of such fields can read:
Frieden A, Jeffrey A, Lake DA, and Schultz KA (2018). World Politics: Interests, Interactions, Institutions. New York: Norton (for a general and wide perspective on International Relations)
Mission & Content Summary
MISSION
This course offers an exploration of the systematic study of political conflict. It provides students with an overview of cutting-edge research in political science concerning conflicts. The course is divided into three main parts. The first part delves into the causes of interstate conflicts and examines the roles that regime types and individual leaders may play. The next part shifts the focus to intrastate conflicts, encompassing the causes of civil wars, the victimization of civilians and mass killings, military-driven humanitarian interventions, and terrorism. The final part delves into special topics in conflict studies, that can include the roles of gender, climate change, immigration, and other similar topics. It will also discuss the ethics of conducting research on conflict.
In addition to lectures, students will be required to work in groups and deliver presentations on one of the topics covered in class. The ultimate objective of the course is to familiarize students with an empirical approach to analyzing conflicts and equip them with robust theoretical tools to support their rigorous investigations.
CONTENT SUMMARY
Inter-state wars: Why do states engage in wars?
Regime type and conflict: How do domestic politics, regime types, and bureaucracies affect the occurrence of conflicts?
Leaders and conflict: Do individual leaders affect the propensity of conflict? How and why?
Civil wars: Why does war occur within a state?
Terrorism: Why kill noncombatants?
Genocides and mass killings: Why do perpetrators carry out mass killings?
Humanitarian interventions and peacekeeping: When do peacekeeping operations take place and what are their effects?
Gender and conflict: What are the effects of women in leadership positions and in the public on conflicts?
Immigration and conflict: How does conflict shape immigration? How does immigration shape conflict?
Climate change and conflict: Does climate change foster conflict?
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Define the main theoretical frameworks used to analyze the causes and dynamics of conflicts.
- Describe the historical background and key events of major contemporary and historical conflicts.
- Identify the factors that contribute to the emergence and escalation of conflicts.
- Explain the roles and motivations of various stakeholders involved in conflicts, including states, non-state actors, and international organizations.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Apply theoretical and empirical strategies to analyze contemporary and historical conflicts.
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of the causes and dynamics of conflicts through case studies and presentations.
- Evaluate different perspectives and arguments related to conflict scenarios and justify your assessments.
- Develop well-structured arguments and critical analyses in written papers and debates.
- Communicate insights and analyses clearly and effectively in both oral presentations and written formats.
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
- Individual works / Assignments
- Collaborative Works / Assignments
DETAILS
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Lectures: Traditional lectures will be used to explain important concepts, theories, and evidence for the class. Students will be expected to attend lectures to learn from the material.
Guest speakers: Guest speakers may be invited to present about topics related to conflicts. The purpose of this activity will be to expose and allow students to engage with experts who are actively working on issues related to conflict. Students are expected to actively engage with the guest speakers during class.
Collaborative works will include group papers and group presentations. These are aimed at improving the students' ability to critically engage with the class material and apply it to new cases, as well as the writing, presentation, and debate skills of students.
In-class quizzes will be short reading quizzes to ensure that students read the class material ahead of class in order to be able to actively engage with the lecture. |
Assessment methods
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ATTENDING STUDENTS
For attending students, the grade will consist of the following:
1- Collaborative paper/presentation in class (30%): The paper and presentation will assess the ability of the students to apply material to specific cases and their abilities to present and debate the material.
2- Reading quizzes and participation (10%): This will be assessed by reading quizzes at the beginning of class to make sure that students are conducting the readings and actively participating in the class.
4- Final exam (60%): The final exam for attending students will include fill-in-the-blanks, multiple-choice questions, and short answer questions. These will aim to assess the students' understanding of the concepts, methods, and tools presented in the course material and their correct comprehension.
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
For non-attending students, the grade will be based on a final exam alone. The final exam will include fill-in-the-blanks, multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. These will aim to assess the students' understanding of the concepts, methods, and tools presented in the course material and their correct comprehension. These will also be used to evaluate the students' ability to critically engage with the material in short answer and essay formats.
Teaching materials
ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
No required books. This book will provide helpful background:
Frieden, Jeffry A., David A. Lake, and Kenneth A. Schultz. World politics: interests, interactions, institutions. New York: Norton (2021).
Last change 24/05/2024 16:11