Course code EDS378

EDS378 Peacebuilding in Fragile and Conflict Affected States. Case Studies of Afghanistan

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Showing course contents for the educational year 2019 - 2020 .

Course responsible: Gry Synnevåg
ECTS credits: 5
Faculty: Faculty of Landscape and Society
Teaching language: EN
(NO=norsk, EN=Engelsk)
Teaching exam periods:
This course starts in January block. This course has teaching/evaluation in January block, 
Course frequency: Annually. 
First time: Study year 2013-2014
Preferential right:
M-IR. 
Course contents:

Historical perspectives and characteristics of fragile and conflict-affected states (2h); Drivers and root causes of conflict (2h); Security and Development and Peace (SDP) nexus (4h); Seminar on FCASs and SDP (2h); History and context of Peacebuilding (PB) (2h) PB models and approaches (4h); Seminar on Peacebuilding (2h);

Case Study (Afghanistan): Country overview (1h); Building the modern Afghan State - The Afghan State and governance structures (1h); Economic Development - formal and informal economies (2h) Traditional PB in Afghanistan (1h) Post-2001 PB in Afghanistan -politics, security and economic development (4h); Seminar on Afghanistan (2h); Afghanistan - Future prospects (2h); End Seminar (2h);Course Review (1h)

Learning outcome:

By the end of the course, students should be:

  •          Familiar with the historical origins and evolving characteristics of fragile and conflict affected states, historical and current debates around peacebuilding, security and development. Through a detailed case study, review a spectrum of diverse stakeholders and scenarios, students will gain a realistic understanding of the effects and actual impact of peacebuilding interventions.
  •          Able to understand some of the complex drivers that create a fragile state, the role conflict plays within a broader security and development axis therein, and the real impact of peacebuilding policies, frameworks and programmes. Using this to link the more practical issues facing conflict/post-conflict and fragile states, with the involvement of external actors and western policies, realist and complexity theories in IR, from which general lessons can be drawn and applied elsewhere within IR and Development streams.
  •          Able to identify patterns and draw from the failures and successes in Afghanistan, and apply them as generalisable lessons to international relations, economic, security and geo-political theory and further case studies.
Learning activities:
Lectures, seminars and groupwork. 
Teaching support:
Office hours and procedures are established at the first class meeting.
Syllabus:
Selected books and articles. Will be posted in Canvas.
Prerequisites:
General knowledge of international relations, undergraduate courses in relevant social sciences. 
Recommended prerequisites:
Mandatory activity:
Seminar attendance: Mandatory
Assessment:
Exam in ENGLISH ONLY. Final written examination (3h) counts 100% of the grade. Written digital exam: A - F. 
Nominal workload:
150 hours. 
Entrance requirements:
A relevant Bachelor degree or equivalent.
Type of course:
14 lectures and 4 seminars. 
Examiner:
Internal and external examiners will be part of the evaluation.
Examination details: One written exam: A - E / F