Course Title: Peace-Building and Conflict Resolution
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Peace-Building and Conflict Resolution
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
SOCU2241 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2012, Sem 1 2020, Sem 2 2024 |
SOCU2242 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 1 2013 |
SOCU2242 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face or Internet |
Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2018 |
Flexible Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
SOCU2241 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
UGRDFlex18 (All) |
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Damian Grenfell
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3462
Course Coordinator Email: damian.grenfell@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Building 37, Level 5
Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
Peace remains a basic hope for millions of people around the globe as they seek to escape protracted violence, social upheaval and war. Since the end of the Cold War there has been a series of fundamental changes in how peace is approached by the global community, and yet violent conflict remains a daily reality for many people while attempts at creating a sustained peace vary significantly in terms of success.
By doing this course you will develop your knowledge of contemporary approaches to peace-building, peace transitions and reconciliation across the global, national and local. Drawing upon theoretical debates and contemporary and historical case-studies from around the world, this course evaluates different techniques used to transition societies out of conflict and rebuild communities in the aftermath of mass violence. The course is designed to equip you with knowledge of basic terms, introduce to a range of actors, approaches and key debates, while also being taught from a critical perspective that addresses underlying questions of power. Peace and peace-building has become a central dimension in the work of government and state agencies, civil society actors and community-based organisations and cuts its way across diplomacy, humanitarian work, transitional justice, development and security.
The course will give emphasis to the professional practice of people working as part of peace related programs, the ethical dimensions and challenges of such work, with first-hand field experiences will be drawn into the learning wherever possible. Some of the key arguments include that:
- peace-building is not politically neutral and needs to be understood in relation to power
- peace is multi-dimensional and multi-faceted and can be constituted in very different ways from the local, national and global.
- dominant framings of contemporary peace-building and peace transitions tend to be ideologically grounded and can undermine other opportunities for peace or even give rise to the possibility of new forms of violence.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
CLO 1: Learn about contemporary and past conflicts as they relate to peace-building and peace transitions as well as forms of warfare and mass violence.
CLO 2: Build your knowledge of relevant actors in peace processes from the global to the local.
CLO 3: Diagnose potential initiatives, strategies and approaches for effective action in conflict and post-conflict situations.
CLO 4: Apply analytical skills as required to peace-building in real world contexts in order to mitigate the risk and impact of violence and its consequence over medium and long term timeframes.
Overview of Learning Activities
You will be engaged in learning that involves face to face and online activities such as lectures and in class activities which may include role plays, scenarios, debates and class presentations. Readings are integrated into all assessments and in class activities. Students are recommended to ensure adequate time is allocated to reading as a key learning activity.
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.
A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.
The University Library has extensive resources for International Development and International Studies students. The Library has produced a number of subject guides that includes quality online and print resources for your studies. Please see International Development and International Studies Library Guides.
The Library provides guides on academic referencing https://www.rmit.edu.au/library/study/referencing and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarians.
Overview of Assessment
You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment Task 1: In Class Activities, 30% CLO 1,2,3,4
Assessment Task 2: Conflict Briefing analysis
- Part A: 400 word analysis, 10% CLO 1,2,3
- Part B: 800 word analysis, 20% CLO 2,3,4
Assessment Task 3: Peace Strategy Industry Report (1600 words), 40%, CLO 2,3,4.
Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.
Any late assessment with prior approval will be penalised at 5 percent of its grade per day.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.
Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.