Keywords

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course the student:
- is able to describe in general terms the field of peace and conflict research
- knows its different traditions and orientations
- is familiar with the research conducted in the Peace and Conflict Research and can describe its main new critical trends, themes and domains
- is familiar with the historical development of international conflicts and the practices of peaceful change
- is familiar with the contingent meaning of "peace"
- is aware of the global imbalances of power and resources and their relations to conflicts
- is familiar with the key theoretical approaches employed in Peace and Conflict Research
- is able to apply general theoretical and conceptual frameworks to the analysis of conflicts and conflict transformation
- is aware of the current political challenges to global peace
- is familiar with the research themes that are examined in Tampere Peace Research Institute

Contents

The course is divided to four sections:

HISTORICAL TRADITION OF THE DISCIPLINE: Peace & Conflict Research Traditions
Description: The aim if this section is to offer a comprehensive overview of the meta-theoretical traditions of peace and conflict research and Tampere Peace Research Institute's location in them.

HISTORY OF IDEAS AND PRACTICE: Peaceful Transformation of Conflicts: Global/Critical and Historical Perspectives
Description: The aim if this section is to offer a comprehensive overview of historical development of idea and practice of peacemaking (incl. peacekeeping, peacebuilding and mediation) as well as the definition of "peace". The particular focus in on the forms of liberal interventionism (incl. democratic peace, humanitarian interventions and liberal peace) and its global critic.

THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAME: Understanding Conflicts and Conflict Resolution: Theoretical Approaches
Description: The aim of this section is to offer a comprehensive overview of the various theories of contemporary violent conflict. The evolution of theories of conflict and violence is discussed, and students are given an appreciation of the usefulness and limitations of theories in relation to the analysis of international conflict.

TAPRI research day:
The aim of the research day is to introduce research conducted at Tampere Peace Research Institute.

Teaching methods

Teaching language

Evaluation

Study materials

Literature:

Theoretical and conceptual frame:

Charles Webel & Johan Galtung (Eds.)(2007) Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies. Routledge.

OR

Oliver Ramsbotham, Hugh Miall and Tom Woodhouse  (2011) Contemporary Conflict Resolution, 3rd edition, Cambridge: Polity Press.

History of Ideas and Practice:

David Cortright (2008) Peace: A History of Movements and Ideas. Cambridge University Press.

OR

Oliver Richmond (2014) Failed Statebuilding. Intervention, the State, and the Dynamics of Peace Formation. Yale University Press.

OR

Louis Kriesberg (2016) Realizing peace : a Constructive Conflict Approach. Oxford University Press.

Further information

The course must be completed during 1st year, autumn term.

Belongs to following study modules

2018–2019

Teaching

Archived Teaching Schedule. Please refer to current Teaching Shedule.

PEACE1 Contemporary Peace and Conflict Studies