OADI 2145 - Art of Peace

***UPDATED for 2021/22***

This introductory policy-oriented course will examine the art of peace: how to deploy a range of diplomatic, economic, as well as military instruments to prevent conflict, minimize violence, manage an ongoing crisis, build peace in the aftermath of a crisis, and establish an environment to sustain peace. It will assess the latest shifts in strategic thinking and policies on the diplomacy of peace within the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, and the United States, as well as analyse the role of other actors in this field, such as the African Union and China. It will appraise several case studies in which these policies were implemented and examine factors why the policies succeeded or failed. Finally, it will seek to identify the role of individual leadership by diplomats, policy-makers, and international civil servants—at various levels of authority—in fostering peace. The course will be particularly useful to students interested in working in international institutions (such as the EU, UN, NATO, or the World Bank), foreign ministries, think tanks, academia, NGOs, and the media. It will also be useful to students interested in strategy, how it is developed in specific national or international contexts, and the challenges in any policy implementation. Readings, nearly all of which are available online, will focus on peace strategies and policies at the UN, EU, and US, as well as specific case studies. Recommended readings will provide further historical background. Additional readings may be added to reflect latest developments.


Learning Outcomes

At the end of the class, students will be able to:

1. Better understand and discuss the latest strategic thinking and policies on the diplomacy of peace

2. Gain useful knowledge of various international organizations and their approaches to conflict prevention and sustainable peace

3. Discuss and apply their knowledge to specific country case studies, including successes and failures in peacemaking

4. Demonstrate analytical thinking and gain experience in writing policy briefs (in an international professional environment)

Professional Skills

1. Research, analysis and critical thinking

2. Oral and written communication skills (through oral presentations, debates, active participation and written assignments)

3. Working effectively in a team (through group presentations and case study)

Arthur BOUTELLIS,Bart SZEWCZYK

English

- In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Online learning activities: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 3-4 hours a week / 36-48 hours a semester
- Research and Preparation for Group Work: 4 hours a semester
- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 50 hours a semester

None.

Autumn and Spring 2021-2022

The evaluation of students' performance will be based on three types of assessments:
- a written paper due at the end of the course, with a draft outline due on week 7 (60%),
- a 10-15 min oral presentation conducted in groups of two (30%),
- active class participation (10%).

Feedback will be provided throughout the class. During the timeframe of the class, thorough feedback will be provided to students by email, a few days after the oral presentation and a week after submission of the policy paper's draft outline. General feedback on the final paper and class participation will be provided by email a few weeks after the end of class. Students should feel free to ask for additional feedback, if and when needed.