Module: International Peacekeeping & Peacebuilding

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	International Peacekeeping & Peacebuilding
Module Code	POL1048 (ITS: LG369)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This five-credit module covers the main theoretical, historical, and practical approaches to peacekeeping and peacebuilding. It covers some of the most interesting and relevant themes in peace and conflict studies. The first part examines the evolution of peacekeeping, different types of peace operations, as well as explores who are the main contributors to peacekeeping, what are the contemporary challenges, and how the regional organizations are shaping the nature of peacekeeping in the 21st Century. The second part discusses the transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. It examines the emergence and application of liberal peacebuilding, as well as looks at the UN transitional administration along with a number of case study discussions. The third part disentangles the shortcomings of peacebuilding and statebuilding in practice, as well as explores the new trends of remote peacekeeping and peacebuilding and the emergence of alternative approaches to peace in conflict-affected societies.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the historical, theoretical and practical aspects of peacekeeping and peacebuilding
2. Critically assess the changing nature of peacekeeping and peacebuilding approaches
3. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of each approach to keeping and building peace
4. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the cases covered in the course
5. Apply the knowledge acquired in this module to new cases as well to other related debates in international relations and security studies.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	No Description
Independent Study	103	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11415	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Walt Kilroy	Module Teacher	Gëzim Visoka, Harikrishnan Sasikumar

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Article review	50%	n/a
Presentation	Group presentation	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Historical development of peacekeeping

Types of peace operations

Providing for Peacekeeping

Contemporary challenges of peacekeeping

Regionalization of peacekeeping

Case studies of EU and NATO peacekeeping

Liberal peacebuilding

Post-Conflict Statebuilding

Case studies of post-conflict peacebuilding and statebuilding

Hybrid Peacebuilding

Remote Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Alex J. Bellamy and Paul D. Williams: 2010, Understanding peacekeeping, 2nd, Polity, Cambridge,
Oliver Ramsbotham, Tom Woodhouse, Hugh Miall: 2014, Contemporary Conflict Resolution, 3rd, Polity, Cambridge,
Roland Paris: 2004, At Warâ€™s End: Building Peace After Civil Conflict, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Oliver P. Richmond: 2011, A Post-Liberal Peace, Routledge, Abington,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None