Historical and cultural background of Afghanistan and Pakistan (1h+1h)

Socio-economic context, gender and development (1h + 1h+ 2h seminar)

GOVERNANCE: State building (2h +2h), Governance and decentralisation (2h + 2h+ 2h seminar)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Economic development and the formal economy (2h ), informal economy and counternarcotics (2h + 2h seminar)

SECURITY: Security and stabilisation (2h + 2h + 2h seminar), Peacebuilding (2h)

REGIONAL GEOPOLITICS: Historical review of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations 1977-2000 (2h), Evolving dynamics of Afghanistan- Pakistan relation 2001- present (2h + 2h seminar), Regional geopolitics and its influence on development in Afghanistan and its relationship with neighbouring countries (2h + 2 h seminar) 

13 lectures and 7 seminars  

To provide students with a hands-on understanding of evolving fragile and post conflict states in tandem with external policy environments. This will be achieved through detailed case studies of the complex issues surrounding security, economic development and governance in Afghanistan and Pakistan. By the end of the course participants should be familiar with the background to state building, economic development and security topics to a level at which participants can engage with fellow practitioners, researchers, advisors and those interested in Afghanistan, Pakistan and regional affairs of neighbouring countries. The course will also be of interest to those looking at the more practical issues facing conflict/post-conflict and fragile states, from which general lessons can be drawn and applied.

The course will analyse the key stakeholders involved in statebuilding and explores current constraints to maintaining a stable democratic Afghanistan and Pakistan, peace building initiatives, and discuss key opportunities and challenges for longer term economic development. The discussion move forward to issues around the " Transition Decade " (2015 - 2024) and its impacts, both in Afghanistan, Pakistan and scenarios for the future.

It will seek to present case studies to present insight in actual problems and solutions followed by group works and student seminars to discuss and understand practical complexities.