Module: EDU5115-20 Peace and Conflict

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Tingting Yuan

Module Tutor Contact Details: t.yuan@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

Introduction to the module

The aim of this module is to support you to develop the knowledge and skills that you need to understand and make positive contributions to debate and discussion around peace and violent conflict in today’s society and from an historical perspective. The module also develops transferable skills that will help you to develop as a professional, who may go onto work in this field, including in humanitarian relief, international development, peacebuliding, social entrepreneurship and international affairs. We do this by exploring theoretical and cultural analyses and interpretations of violent conflict, by looking at contemporary practices of making and keeping peace and by exploring the roles and challenges that different actors working in this field face. We will give you opportunities to interpret and respond to these issues creatively and to engage with people who are working actively in this field. You will have the opportunity to do independent research in an area you are particularly interested in and to work with your peers to produce your own responses to the issues that we discuss.

2.Outline syllabus

Key concepts :

Ø Theories of violence:

• Structural violence

• Cultural violence

• Direct violence

Ø Theories of peace:

• Positive and negative peace

• Liberal peace

• Culture of Peace

• Just Peace (Social Justice)

• Post-structural peace

• Current issues:

Ø Peace building and justice initiatives

Ø Memory work

Ø Truth and reconciliation commissions

Ø Peace education

Ø History curricular

Ø Transitional justice

Ø Activism v pacifism

Key skills:

Ø Social theorising

Ø Critical thinking

Ø Constructing and evidencing an academic argument

3.Teaching and learning activities

Content input (powerpoint, lecture style content) in informal seminar groups punctuated by seminar activities:

• Debating the different perspectives

• Discussing the key readings

• Exploring and analysing specific examples/ case- studies

• Journaling/reflexivity

• Field trips as appropriate

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Contribution to group archive of learning (Minimum 150 words)

• % Weighting: Pass/Fail

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Review of a peace-building and/or justice initiative (1,000 words)

• % Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 3:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Conflict analysis of a recent or historical conflict (2,000 words and concept map)

• % Weighting: 60%