Module: Resolving & Managing Conflict

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Resolving & Managing Conflict
Module Code	LG533 (ITS) / POL1080 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Law & Government
Module Co-ordinator	Walt Kilroy
Module Teachers	John Doyle
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None
Array

Description

To examine the different experiences of attempts at successful and unsuccessful conflict resolution, management and prevention strategies To introduce students to the major theoretical works of conflict escalation, and resolution, in particular looking at the debates on the causes of conflict, the timing of mediation intervention and consociationalism as a form of solution To explore through case studies a number of post cold war peace processes To discuss the different methodological approaches to the analysis of conflict resolution strategies.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the most prominent theories of conflict resolution
2. Apply theories of conflict resolution to case studies
3. Communicate in a clear and precise manner the nature of an individual conflict and what different theories suggest about its potential resolution

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	12	No Description
Seminars	12	No Description
Independent Study	226	independent reading, research and writing
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to theories of Conflict Escalation, Prevention, Resolution, Management and Transformation

Theories of Conflict Escalation and de-escalation. Greed versus Grievance as explations of conflict. Political economy versus other approaches to analysis

Consociational Theory and the work of A. Lijphart

Theories of Ripeness - can we identify when best to intervene? The work of Zartman

The role of the UN

The evoluition of peacekeeping

The evolution of European Security

Conflict Prevention - can we accurately predict and prevent escaltion ? The work of Ted Gurr and Barbara Harff

Mediation and peace agreements - Northern Ireland, Cyprus

Traditional Peacekeeping - UNIFIL (and Liberia ?)

Peace Enforcement Missions - Somalia, (and Bosnia?)

Armed Intervention - Kosovo

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	50%	Examination Weight	50%

Type	Description	% of total
Course Work Breakdown
Essay	Essay One	30%
Oral Examination	Class based oral presentations	20%
Essay	Essay 2 - with potential for free choice of cases	50%

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Bellamy: 2004, Understanding peacekeeping, Polity, 0745630588
Oliver Ramsbotham, Tom Woodhouse and Hugh Miall: 2005, Contemporary conflict resolution, Polity, 9780745632131
Peter Wallensteen,: 2007, Understanding Conflict Resolution, Sage, 9781412928595

Other Resources

5570, Weekly readings from articles and policy websites , 0, Weekly readings,