International Conflict Management

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 2	Gabriel Garroum Plà	Esade	ENG

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM

This module is designed to contribute to the track of Global Politics through the multi-faceted study of international conflicts.

In this course, students will learn the different conceptual approaches to conflict throughout history, the different typologies of conflict, the international mechanisms to manage armed disputes, and the available avenues for resolution.

Moreover, International Conflict Management seeks to strengthen the students' ability to deal with real cases and deploy the theoretical and practical tools necessary to analyse, forecast, prevent, manage, and resolve international conflict.

In sum, the module aims to engage with several key questions:

- How can we understand conflict in the international sphere?
- Which are the main types of conflict, and in what ways do they differ?
- Do conflicts evolve? If so, how can we intervene in each of the phases?
- Which instruments do the international community have to promote, implement, and manage peace?
- How can we solve a conflict? Which are the different avenues for resolution?

CONTENT

1. Introduction I Peace, War, and Basic Concepts
2. Introduction II Conflict Studies as a Social Sciences Field
3. The History and Evolution of Armed Conflicts
4. The Conflict's Triangles Galtung's Approach to the Dynamics of Conflict: Actors, Interests, and Goals
5. Conflict Taxonomies Tangible vs Intangible Conflicts
6. Conflict Stages Pre-Belligerence, Belligerence, and Post-Conflict. Analysis, Management, and Resolution
7. Conflict Analysis
8. Conflict Management Negotiation, Peace Operations, and Emergency Programs
9. Peace Agreements
10. Post-Conflict Resolution 3R, DDR, Transitional Justice, and Conflict Transformation

1. Introduction I

Peace, War, and Basic Concepts

2. Introduction II

Conflict Studies as a Social Sciences Field

3. The History and Evolution of Armed Conflicts

4. The Conflict's Triangles

Galtung's Approach to the Dynamics of Conflict: Actors, Interests, and Goals

5. Conflict Taxonomies

Tangible vs Intangible Conflicts

6. Conflict Stages

Pre-Belligerence, Belligerence, and Post-Conflict.
Analysis, Management, and Resolution

7. Conflict Analysis

8. Conflict Management

Negotiation, Peace Operations, and Emergency Programs

9. Peace Agreements

10. Post-Conflict Resolution

3R, DDR, Transitional Justice, and Conflict Transformation

Methodology

Methodologically, this course seeks to offer the students the fundamental concepts, theories, tools, and mechanisms of conflict analysis. Particular emphasis will be placed on the examples, scenarios, and real case studies through which students can enhance their knowledge and be able to discern how real contexts interrelate with the theory in different ways. Students are expected to obtain a good understanding of different conflict dynamics around the world, and a lot of attention will be placed on strengthening their ability to translate and apply concepts and insights into a wide range of empirical phenomena.

Students are expected to, at least, skim-read some key texts that will be used to deepen the knowledge of crucial aspects of conflict analysis, management, and resolution. Throughout the sessions, students' participation and engagement with the subject will be expected and encouraged. All sessions will provide different material to stimulate doubts, questions, and debate among peers.

Description	%
In-class Short Exercises	10
In-class Long Exercises	15
Conflict Analysis	25
Final Exam	50

Assessment criteria

The module's assessment is comprised of four types of activities:

- First, working in pairs or small groups, students will have to do two short in-class activities. These activities will take place in the first part of the module and will help students get a good grip on basic concepts and ideas necessary to comprehend the rest of the module. These small tasks will be 10% of the final mark.
- Second, working in pairs or small groups, students will also have to engage in long in-class activities. These activities will be designed to enhance the students' capacity to defend arguments, build analyses, and debate with each other. These longer tasks will account for 15% of the final mark.
- Third, working in pairs or small groups, students will have to produce a conflict analysis of around 20 pages, where all the concepts, tools, and knowledge learnt throughout the course will be put into practice through a case study. The cases will be allocated at the beginning of the course, and the report will account for 25% of the final mark.
Finally, the end-of-semester exam will be 50% of the final mark. It is compulsory to obtain a minimum of 4,5 to pass the course.

An attendance of 80% is necessary to be entitled to the ordinary evaluation. An attendance of 50% is required to be entitled to the extraordinary evaluation.

Bibliography

Essential bibliography:

COLLINS, A. (2007). Contemporary Conflict Studies, Oxford University Press
FISAS, V. (1998). Cultura de Paz y Gestión de Conflictos. Icaria: UNESCO, Barcelona.
GALTUNG, J. (1998). Tras la violencia, 3R: reconstrucción, reconciliación, resolución. Bakeaz/Guernika Gogoratuz, Bilbao.
MIALL, RAMBSBOTHAM y WOODHOUSE (1999).Contemporary Conflict Resolution: the prevention, management and resolution of deadly conflicts. Cambridge, Polity Press, United Kingdom.
NYE, J. (2009). Understanding International Conflicts, An introduction to theory and history. Pearson International Edition. Longman, New York.
WALLENSTEIN, P. (2007). Understanding Conflict Resolution, Sage Publications, London. WALZER, M. (2001). Guerras Justas e Injustas. Paidós, Barcelona.

Additional bibliography:

ANDERSON, B.(1983). Imagined Communities.London: Verso Books.
ARCHAMBAULT, P. (2006). "Thinking about strategic threats?, Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, Winter 2006/07, Vol. 9, Issue 2.
AZAR, E. y J.W. Burton (eds). International Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice. Sussex, Boulder, Wheatsheaf: Lynne Rienner, 1986.
BANKS, M.(1996).Ethnicity: Anthropological Constructions. Routledge: London.
CLAUSEWITZ, C. von. On War. Published in 1967, Oxford University Press: Oxford.
GRASA, R. "Los vínculos entre seguridad, paz y desarrollo: la evolución de la Seguridad Humana de La teoría al programa político y a la operacionalización práctica?, Seminario sobre Seguridad Humana. CIDOB, Barcelona, 3 de mayo de 2006.
HOROWITZ, D. (1995) Ethnic Groups in Conflict. University of California Press: Berkeley, CA.
IGNATIEFF, M. El honor del guerrero. Guerra étnica y conciencia moderna. Taurus, Madrid.
KALDOR, M. (1999) New Wars and Old Wars: Organized Violence in a Global Era. Polity Press: Cambridge.
KAUFMANN, CHAIM (1996a). "Possible and impossible solutions to ethnic civil wars? in International Security, 20(4), pp. 136-175.
KEOHANE, R.O. y Joseph NYE (1997). "Interdependence in World Politics? in G. CRANE, The theoretical evolution of international political economy: a reader. Oxford University Press: Nueva York.
LIPPMAN, W. in Barry BUZAN (1991).People, States and Fear. Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
MAALOUF, A. (1998). Identidades Asesinas. Alianza: Madrid
MARTÍNEZ GUZMÁN, V. (1995) Teoría de la paz. Nau Llibres, Barcelona.
MORGAN, P. "Security in International Politics: Traditional Approaches? in Allan COLLINS (2007).
Contemporary Conflict Studies, Oxford University Press, pp. 13-32.
MORGENTHAU, H. (1967). Politics Among Nations, 4th edition, Knopf: New York.
NYE, J. (1990). Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of American Power. (2004). Soft Power: the Means of Success in World Politics.
ROMEVA, R. (2003) Guerra, Posguerra y paz. Pautas para el análisis y la intervención en contextos posbélicos o postacuerdo. Icaria: Barcelona.
SMITH, ANTHONY (1986). The Ethnic Origins of Nations. Blackwell: Oxford.

Type:	OPT	Curs:	2	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	6 ECTS

International Conflict Management (2225.YR.013007.1)

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