• Postgraduate study:
• Courses
• Apply now
• Fees and funding
• Accommodation
• Open Events
• Work placement
• Study resources
• Student support
• Research
• Campuses
• Choose Kingston
• Disability and mental health support

• Postgraduate study:
• Courses
• Apply now
• Fees and funding
• Accommodation
• Open Events
• Work placement
• Study resources
• Student support
• Research
• Campuses
• Choose Kingston
• Disability and mental health support

Conflict Theory and Resolution

• Module code: PO7004
• Year: 2018/9
• Level: 7
• Credits: 30
• Pre-requisites: None
• Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module covers two aspects key to understanding and managing conflict within international relations.  First, it looks at theoretical and analytical approaches to conflict.  Drawing on insights from a range of social science disciplines – including history, psychology, anthropology, sociology, politics and international relations – this module critically examines the range of theories that have been put forward to explain how conflict arises and how it escalates.  It also explores the way in which identity (such as religion and ethnicity), structural inequality, frustration and aggression can all play a part in creating the conditions for confrontation and conflict.  Second, the module explores the wide range of ways in which international conflict can be managed and resolved and how a sustainable peace can be built in post-conflict situations. The module therefore explores topics such as:

• The role of international law and international organisations in the management of conflict;
• The prevention and containment of conflict;
• Humanitarian intervention and peacekeeping;
• Mediation and negotiation;
• The role of NGOs and aid organisations in conflict; and
• Reconciliation and reconstruction.

Aims

• To examine critically a variety of approaches to the causation of conflict
• To develop understanding of history of, and approaches to, conflict regulation.
• To develop students' ability to assess the role of law and international organisations in conflict regulation.
• To develop students' critical abilities in applying theories of conflict causation and conflict regulation to contemporary or historical conflict situations.
• To provide a solid foundation for further study of conflict theory and practice.

Learning outcomes

• Identify and critically evaluate a variety of approaches to the causation of conflict
• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the history of, and approaches to, conflict regulation;
• Assess critically the role of law and international organisations in conflict regulation;
• Apply conflict causation theories and conflict regulation approaches to contemporary situations of conflict within international relations
• Demonstrate study and research techniques appropriate to the advanced study of conflict

Curriculum content

• Approaches to the causes of conflict, conceptualising conflict - psychology, social psychology, sociology, economics, and political science.
• International relations – anarchy in the international system
• Military doctrine as a cause of conflict
• Psychological perspectives – biological models, social systems, nature or nurture, frustration/aggression.
• Feminist theories of conflict – gender, man as the root of conflict.
• Structural conflict - social structures, institutions, authority, legitimacy, ideology, legal systems.
• Identity as conflict – gender, race, religion, ethnicity, nationality.
• Conflict and development - resource conflict, modernity, economics of the global system
• Domestic economics as root of conflict – inequality, Marxist approaches
• Types of conflict, their primary sources and dynamics.
• Conflict regulation: introduction to conflict management and conflict resolution theory and practice
• Domestic conflict regulation
• The role of international law and international organizations in conflict regulation
• Civilian and military interventions in conflict
• Prevention and containment of conflict
• Peacemaking and peacebuilding
• Reconciliation and reconstruction
• Non-governmental organisations and conflict

Teaching and learning strategy

Weekly lectures provide background and contextual information. These are complemented by seminar workshops in which students analyse and discuss issues relating to the lectures, undertake presentations, compare their learning and understanding with their peers, and receive formative feedback from tutors.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Assessment strategy

Summative assessment takes the following forms: at the end of the first semester an essay of 3,000 words (50%). At the end of the second semester assessment of an essay of 3,000 words (50%). This enables feedback from the first assessment to feed into the second.  Weekly feedback and feed forward enables students to develop understanding and improve their learning experience through tutor guidance and peer review.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Elements of Assessment

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Ramsbotham,O, et al (eds) (2005) Contemporary Conflict Resolution, Cambridge:

Chester Crocker, Fen Osler Hampson, Pamela Aall, eds. (2001) Turbulent Peace: The Challenges of Managing International Conflict, Washington: United States Institute of Peace.

Joseph Nye (1999) Understanding International Conflict: Introduction to History and Theory, London, Longmann.

Jones, B. (1999) (ed.) Violence Explained: The sources of conflict, violence, crime and their prevention (Manchester: Manchester University Press).

Van Evera, S. (1999) Causes of War: Power and the Roots of Conflict, (London: Cornell University Press.

Bibliography recommended reading

Arendt, H. (1970) On Violence (London: Allen Lane).

Blainey, G (1988) The Causes of War (Basingstoke, Macmillan).

Burton, J and Dukes, P. (eds.) (1990), Conflict: Readings in Management and Resolution, (London: Macmillan)

Fleming, J. (2000) The War of All Against All: An Analysis of Conflict in Society, (Lanham, M.D.: International Scholars). Ganguly, R. and Taras R. Understanding ethnic conflict: the international dimension (New York: Longman).

Goldstein, J. (2001) War and Gender (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).

Hirshleifer, J. (2001) The Dark Side of the Force: economic foundations of conflict theory (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).

Sandole D. and van der Merwe J. (eds) (1993) Conflict Resolution Theory and Practice: Integration and Application (Manchester: Manchester University Press)

Vasquez, Johnson, Jaffe, Stamato (1995) (eds.), Beyond Confrontation: Learning Conflict Resolution in the Post-Cold War Era (University of Michigan, Michigan)