Justice and Conflict

Overview

This module situates the concept of ‘justice’ in the context of violent conflict, exploring how justice has different meanings and is achieved through different mechanisms in societies affected by conflict around the world. Students examine themes including the troubled relationship between justice and peace, the complex roles actors such as victims and ex-combatants play in justice mechanisms, and a variety of justice mechanisms ranging from community-based grassroots processes, to more well-known transitional justice processes, to increasingly transformative justice processes. The module is global in focus, incorporating critiques of the imposition of Western notions of justice in the Global South, though gives specific attention to the case of Northern Ireland.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
• Understand the social construction of ‘justice’ and its different meanings in settings of conflict around the globe
• Discuss the limitations of traditional criminal justice processes in responding to conflict
• Explain the complex roles of victims and survivors, ex-combatants and members of wider society in justice mechanisms
• Critically analyse justice mechanisms in different settings of conflict
• Develop and communicate academic arguments supported by appropriate academic references

Skills

This module aims to enable students to develop the following skills:
• Identifying and retrieving relevant information from print and electronic sources in relation to a particular topic
• Evaluating evidence and drawing appropriate conclusions
• Summarising complex ideas and research evidence, conveying it in a clear, structured and critical manner (both orally and in writing)
• A capacity for critical reflection and independent thinking, generating new insights and seeing sensitive problems and issues from different perspectives
• Time planning and management

Assessment

None