Sociology of Conflict and Peace Processes

Overview

This module introduces students to sociological approaches to conflict and peace processes. It presents theoretical approaches to conflict and peace, as well as comparative analyses of particular cases, such as Northern Ireland, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Topics include theoretical approaches to conflict management, resolution and transformation; the role of civil society in conflict/peace processes, militarism and military masculinities, the role of religion, the role of women, the role of ex-combatants, and victims/dealing with the past.

Learning Objectives

Understand theoretical approaches to conflict management, resolution and transformation, including sociology’s distinctive contributions to these theoretical debates.

Understand and critically evaluate the concepts of ‘civil society’ and ‘social peace processes’.

Critically analyse and compare the sociology of conflict and peace processes in different contexts.

Identify key actors within social peace processes and critically evaluate their role, including religious actors, women, ex-combatants and victims.

Skills

Intellectual Skills
* An ability to critically read and evaluate sociological literature and non-academic/media material on conflict and peace processes.
* An ability to collect and interpret evidence about conflict and peace processes.
* An ability to demonstrate evidence of independent thinking and to compose reasoned opinions based on development of thought and knowledge

Practical/study skills
* An ability to write in a clear, structured and critical manner using a range of source material
* An ability to present information in spoken form and to contribute to discussions
* An ability to retrieve and synthesise primary and secondary, quantitative and qualitative, sources of (print and electronic) information
* An ability to use information technology to gather, organise and evaluate material

Employability skills
* Organisation: planning and managing your learning, working on your own initiative
* Communication skills: written and oral
* Problem-solving: research, analysis, handling different types of data

Assessment

None