F1IS 4310 - Issues in Contemporary Conflict and Its Resolution

We are living through a new age of conflict and failing attempts at conflict resolution. The nature of both conflict and conflict resolution (CR) is in constant evolution. Conflict began to change after WWII, and ever more so after the Cold War – from interstate industrial wars to complex events involving states and non-state actors on both sides, fighting amongst the people for aims such as self determination, religious supremacy or ethnic rights. The rise of cyber, digital and hi-tech capabilities such as drones has further changed the nature of conflict, as evident in the recent proliferation of conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, Iran and Sudan. As a result, CR has also changed, from agreement between state leaders to complex negotiations with a multitude of parties and intermediaries, often with greatly differing interests and stakes. This two-sided evolution is the subject of this course, starting from the changes to conflict since 1945 to this day, and in parallel examining the evolution of the international order, international humanitarian law, and the resulting changes in CR, and its expansion to private and non-governmental actors. Emphasis will be laid upon the post Cold War era. A key element of the course will be an examination of the international order and its capabilities and failings, alongside discussion of specific conflicts and the attempts at their resolution.

Learning Outcomes

• An understanding of core elements of both conflict and conflict resolution.
• An understanding of the new issues that have arisen since the end of the Cold War and the complexity and pitfalls they have added to conflict and its resolution today.
• A sharpened ability to analyze the many factors, cultural, historical, geopolitical or economic, that lead to conflict and drive the resort to arms.
• An Improved capacity to identify whether a given conflict lends itself to negotiated resolution.
• A deeper understanding of the international system as it relates to conflict and its resolution

Professional Skills

Though this is not a practical course, it is one that will allow students immense insights into conflict situations and correspondingly into conflict resolution tools. It will increase their analytic capability, relevant to a many areas of life. The lecturer is both an academic and a practitioner of peacekeeping, mediation and consultancy, thereby capable of imparting some understanding of all the above.

Students are required to have an understanding of modern history, cognizance with current events, and some knowledge of key international documents such as the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions and similar.

Classes will combine lectures and student participation and may include structured debates.

Professor will be available to students, by appointment, throughout the semester.

(iii) (i) A 10 minute presentation in the semester will account for 20% of the grade; an analytical paper, to be handed in at the end of the semester, will account for 60%. Active participation in class: 20%.

(iv) (ii) grade and feedback regarding the presentation will be provided within a week. Written feedback on analytical paper will be provided within 2 weeks of submission. (Please note that these percentages may be adjusted later.)

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester (2 classes will be held online)
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 3 hours a week / 36 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual and group Assessments: 90 hours a semester