EDS391 Understanding Post-Conflict Police and Security Reform: Linking Security, Conflict, and Development

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Ingrid Louise Peck Nyborg

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:30

Course frequency:Annually.

Nominal workload:250 hours work

Teaching and exam period:Spring semester

About this course

Countries that have experienced violent conflict are often the site of extensive development and security reform processes in their efforts to move towards peace, security and well-being. These contexts, however, are extremely complex, and are often the site of continued insecurity for large parts of the population despite extensive investments by the international community. This course looks closely at these security reform processes, focusing on the case of the police. The course explores the nature of international support to police and security sector reform processes, and how these are embedded in international and national relations of power. It also, however, challenges received notions of state security in these contexts, and looks at alternative approaches to understanding concepts such as security, conflict and development, and what these might mean to a police reform focusing on better police-community relations where trust is often at a deficit. The course explores the importance of understanding local contexts and people’s everyday insecurities, local institutions and security providers, community-oriented policing efforts, the role of civil society in police reform, gender and youth issues, police training and education, and the use of information and communication technologies. The course includes case studies from Africa, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Europe.

Learning outcome

The course will provide students with the analytical tools to better understand police reform processes as an integral part of post-conflict development processes at international, national and local levels.

By the end of the course, the students will better understand police and security sector reform processes in conflict and post-conflict settings. They will be aware of the various theoretical approaches to security, conflict and development, and their significance in the design and implementation of police and security sector reform. They will also gain an understanding of the importance of participatory and inclusive processes in police reform efforts, and how this influences oilice accountability, legitimacy and trust in conflict and post-conflict contexts.

  • Lectures, seminars, and group work. Some of the teaching may be digital.
  • Office hours and other support procedures are established at the first class meeting.
  • A relevant Bachelor degree or the equivalent.
  • Combined assessment. Two compulsory assignments counting 20% each, and a term paper (in English only) counting 60% of the letter grade A-F.
  • Internal and external examiners will be a part of the evaluation
  • Individual and group assignments, in-class discussions and presentations, and term paper development assignments.

    Students will be provided details on mandatory activities at the beginning of the course.

  • Lectures/seminars twice a week, groupwork for one assignment
  • M-IR and M-GDS
  • Letter grades