Advanced Practice in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution MA

The modules for this course can be found in the latest programme specification.

Semester 1 Module Title Core/Option/Elective Credits Designing and Assessing Conflict Intervention Processes Core 20 Applied Conflict Research Core 20 Elective (choice of a range of relevant options within or outside of PSID) Elective 20

The first semester provides a foundation in two key areas: skills for conflict research and analysis, enabling students to develop advanced understanding of the contexts and conditions of social conflict at different scales, and skills for designing appropriate responses to conflict, through an understanding of conflict dynamics and the potential and limitations of various intervention methods. Optional modules allow further specialisation in relation to a number of key areas, including peacebuilding and social-ecological resilience.

In addition, you will be able to choose an elective module from across the University’s provision, giving you plenty of scope to develop and pursue your own interests.

Designing and Assessing Conflict Intervention Processes provides opportunities to learn about options and methods for intervening constructively in conflict situations, and about the ethical, political and practical questions that surround conflict interventions of different types. The module will develop your ability to make informed judgements about the timing and nature of appropriate conflict intervention processes. Through practical engagement in designing responses to a range of conflict situations, you will develop insight into the needs of people in conflict and the strengths and limitations of different processes/methods. The module relates closely to the Applied Conflict Reseach module, linking the process of conflict analysis to the design and assessment of conflict intervention processes.

Applied Conflict Research develops core knowledge and competencies for conflict analysis, with a focus on the practice of conflict research in professional and policy settings. The module will develop your capacity for critical inquiry into contexts where conflict occurs, the causal mechanisms driving or sustaining conflict, the conflict sesntivity of programmes or activities in fragile or conflict affected areas, and the nature and impacts of conflict experience. It emphasises practical and applied learning, through exercises and activities that build understanding of conflict research processes in relation to real cases.

Semester 2 Module Title Core/Option/Elective Credits Skills for Constructive Conflict Engagement Core 20 Creative Conflict Transformation Option 20 Natural Resource Governance Option 20 Movements for Social and Ecological Justice Option 20 Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Option 20 Gender, Conflict and Development Option 20 Africa Study Visit Option 20

In your second semester, you will take one core module and two optional modules. The core extends the practical, applied dimension of the programme. This builds directly on the previous core modules, using knowledge about conflict analysis and intervention design, but focuses more closely on process management – for example, in mediation, dialogue or negotiation. Optional modules again afford opportunities to specialise in areas related both to conflict analysis or processes for addressing conflict and promoting social change.

Please note: African Political and Security Dynamics is offered as an optional module in semester one and it is advised that students going on the Africa Study Visit either take or audit this module.

Skills for Constructive Conflict Engagement provides opportunities to develop and demonstrate competence in core skills and qualities needed in peace and humanitarian work. Building on the modules Applied Conflict Research and Designing and Assessing Conflict Intervention Processes, it continues to develop insight into conflict situations and intervention processes, but with a focus on the direct practice of negotiation, facilitation and mediation in different conflict situations. The module will combine training methodologies with critical insight into the application and limits of peacemaking skills, developing a basis for informed, reflective practice.

Semester 3

In semester 3, the 15,000 word dissertation is a chance to pursue and develop your interests by designing and carrying out your own research project.

A member of academic staff will supervise and support you in choosing a topic, devising an appropriate methodological approach and structuring your work.

Module Title Core/Option/Elective Credits Dissertation Core 60 Elective (Semester 1)

Alongside your core modules in semester 1, you will have the opportunity to choose any module offered within or outside Peace Studies and International Development as your elective. Within PSID, relevant modules include the following: African Politics and Security Dynamics, Applied Conflict Research, Designing and Assessing Conflict Intervention Processes, Contemporary Security Challenges, Governance for Development, Issues in Development Theory, Sustainable Development, The International System in Theory and Context, and Security and Development in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Areas.

Options (Semester 2)

Creative Conflict Transformation explores some intriguing questions posed by John Paul Lederach in his book 'The Moral Imagination': 'What happens to peacebuilding practice if we shift from a guiding metaphor that we are providing professional services to one that we are engaged in a vocation to nurture constructive social change? What happens to process design if we think of ourselves as artists [as well as] professional specialists with technical expertise? What happens if building intuition and art are included in conflict resolution, mediation, and peacebuilding training?' This module invites you to explore some of these questions, and to look beyond the most familiar peacemaking processes to include the arts (e.g. music, applied theatre, literature), memory work, and critical/peace education. It starts from the assumption that much work to address conflict and its legacies requires a capacity to both envision and act for change. How might we cultivate this capacity in ourselves and others? While this module can and should not provide final answers, it will draw inspiration from existing experiences and experiments and encourage you to reflect both creatively and critically on how they might help you shape your own approach to conflict engagement.

Natural Resource Governance will enable you to gain an advanced knowledge and understanding of the key concepts, theories, characteristics, challenges, and strategies and programmes for reform of natural resource governance in developing countries, and particularly in fragile or conflict-affected contexts. This module also introduces professional guidelines and methods and their application to help ensure conflict sensitivity, gender sensitivity or consistency with wider sustainable development goals.

The module examines issues and challenges for natural resources governance, generically and through a wide range of experiences and case studies from across the world. It focuses systematically on different sectors, particularly on: land; water, forests, river basins, fisheries, seas and mineral resources (including oil, gas, gems and metals); and on their relationship with governance, conflict risks and processes, state fragility and societal resilience and gender relations. The module examines the roles of state regulation, community initiatives and governance; and international aid, trade, or environmental agreements.

Movements for Social and Ecological Justice examines the role of social movements in defining, challenging and transforming injustice in a variety of socio-cultural, political and economic domains. A particular emphasis will be on how contemporary movements are tackling the intersections between these domains in a period of ecological crises: What does social justice mean in a context in which economic growth has become deeply problematic and thus can no longer be considered a sustainable route to addressing shortfalls in provision for human needs? How are social and environmental justice issues being framed in contemporary movements for change? What is the potential of ideas and initiatives that are trying to tackle social and ecological issues simultaneously, and what might be the trade-offs involved?

Gender, Conflict and Development: Gender matters in understanding the social roots of violent conflict, how that violence is conducted, and how societies recover. Gender relations and identities are, arguably, the deepest rooted and most personal that we experience, and therefore understanding violent conflict requires a gender analysis (which also intersects with culture, religion, ethnicity, class and other variables). This module explores the linkages between gender roles (masculinities and femininities constructed through identity, ideology, behaviours, attitudes, cultural practices) in different societies at different times have contributed to either the breakdown of social relations into violent conflict, or the construction of stable and peaceful societies. We look at the impact of conflict factors on men as well as women in order to move from a ‘women in conflict/development’ lens to ‘gender and conflict/development’ perspective. Gender analysis implies looking not just the differentiated, gendered experiences of men and of women, but also at the way gender as an idea of masculine/feminine values is deployed discursively and strategically in the roots, conduct and resolution of violent conflict, and in post-conflict development policy.

Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding focuses on countries of the Global South which have experienced conflict. You will explore the changes that have taken place in peacekeeping on the ground, and analyse the different evaluations that have been made by academics, practitioners, campaigners and politicians. You will interrogate the concept of peacebuilding and analyse the ways in which its varying objectives have been addressed by different actors over time in different parts of the Global South. You will explore these themes in the context of country case studies. You will undertake research, using both academic sources and accounts from international organisations, ranging from the United Nations to international Non-Governmental Organisations.

Africa Study Visit: The centrepiece of this module is an intensive two-week study visit in an African country, consisting of a schedule of meetings, interviews, lectures and seminars. You will gain theoretical and historical knowledge of African politics and security, with specific reference to the country you will visit. Once in the country, you will use your historical and theoretical knowledge in what are effectively interview settings to formulate and ask questions of key players, supported by the academic leader. This is in many ways a preparation for PhD or work-based fieldwork, research and writing. You will visit important sites and institutions, and meet with state and local government ministers, politicians, civil servants, members of the security forces, national and international NGO staff and activists, the media, academics and other students. The amalgamation of theory, knowledge and primary research makes this module one amongst the very few of its kind. Please note that there is an additional cost for participation in this module.