Contemporary Conflicts: Case Studies
Module Code: SO7044
- ECTS Credit : 5
- Mandatory/ Optional : Optional
- Module Coordinator : Dr Andrew Finlay
- Module Length: 11 weeks (Hilary Term)
Module Description:
Contemporary conflicts or “new wars” (intrastate/civil wars) are caused by and follow a distinct
set of patterns that distinguish them from “old wars” (interstate wars). In this module, we will
identify the main causes of contemporary conflicts as well as the methods of prevention,
containment, management, and transformation/resolution. Key among these “new wars” are
identity/ethnic conflicts, which will be highlighted in the following empirical case studies:
Northern Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, South Africa, Guatemala, and Burma/Myanmar.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Understand and apply conflict theories to empirical case studies.
- Develop a critical understanding of the causes of contemporary conflicts.
- Develop a critical understanding of the methods of managing/containing and resolving/transforming violent conflict.
- Develop a solid understanding of the global dimension of contemporary conflicts.
Delivery and syllabus:
The module is delivered through 8 seminars. Each seminar will consist of lecture, discussion, and practical exercises. Readings must be completed before each class and a 300 word summary (in the form of an ongoing annotated bibliography) of the main weekly reading will be required on each seminar.
The main topics covered in this module are:
1. Theories and sources of contemporary conflicts.
2. Theories and practices of conflict prevention, management, containment, resolution
and/or transformation.
3. Five empirical case studies: Northern Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, South Africa,
Guatemala, and Burma/Myanmar.
4. The role(s) of identity, race, class, ethnicity, religion, and gender in conflict.
Recommended Texts
- Beyond Intractability resources: http://www.beyondintractability.org/resources
- Borer, T. A. (2003) “A Taxonomy of Victims and Perpetrators: Human Rights and Reconciliation in South Africa” in Human Rights Quarterly, 25:4, pp. 1088-1116.
- Graham, L. (2016) Beyond Social Capital: The Role of Leadership, Trust and Government Policy in Northern Ireland’s Victim Support Groups, London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Guelke, A. (2012) Politics in Deeply Divided Societies, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Kaldor, M. (2003) Global Civil Society: An Answer to War, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- McGarry, J. and B. O’Leary (1993) The Politics of Ethnic Conflict Regulation, Abingdon: Routledge.
- Minow, M. (1999) “The Work of Re-Membering: After Genocide and Mass Atrocity” in Fordham International Law Journal, 23:2, pp. 429-439.
- Ramsbotham, O., Woodhouse, T. and H. Miall (2011) Contemporary Conflict Resolution, 3rd Edition, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Sjoberg, L. (2014) Gender, War, & Conflict, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- South, A. (2011) Burma’s Longest War: Anatomy of the Karen Conflict, Transnational Institute Burma Center Netherlands.
- Toal, G. and C.T. Dahlman (2011) Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and its Reversal,
Oxford: Oxford University Press
Assessment
Assessment is based on the weekly reading summaries (annotated bibliography) (50%) and a
final essay linking theory with one of the empirical case studies presented in the module (50%).