PPR411: Approaches to Peace Studies

Objectives

Peace studies is an interdisciplinary enquiry which addresses the issues of peace and war, violence and non-violence in contemporary global society. This course is organised around two of the main questions in peace studies. What are the causes of violence and war? Can violent conflict be prevented? Based on discussions of theoretical and empirical literature, this course aims to give you a critical appreciation of the main approaches in peace studies and an understanding of the complex dynamics of contemporary armed conflict.

The course starts from an overview of peace studies and goes on to explore research into the causes of wars and the means of war prevention. It investigates the root causes of violence and war, the immediate triggers and the dynamics that influence the continuation of warfare. A number of approaches will be examined, such as approaches that emphasise greed, grievance, failed states, clashing cultures or environmental scarcity as the root causes of violence. This examination of the causes of violence and war will then form the basis for investigating ways of preventing conflict: Can we address the root causes or immediate triggers of violence? And if so, how?

• Peace studies: an overview
• Theories of peace and conflict
• Understanding the causes of wars
• Greed or grievance?
• Political systems and violent conflict
• Clash of civilizations?
• Theories of environmental conflict
• Approaches to war prevention
• Development and conflict
• Non-violent conflict transformation

Select Bibliography

D. Barash & C. Webel, Peace and Conflict Studies (Sage, 2002)

L. Fisk and J. Schellenberg, Patterns of Conflict, Paths to Peace (Broadview Press, 2000)

Ho-Won Jeong, Peace and Conflict Studies: An Introduction (Ashgate, 2000)

Ho-Won Jeong, (ed.) The New Agenda for Peace Research (Ashgate, 1999)

M. Nicholson, Rationality and the Analysis of International Conflict (Cambridge U.P., 1992)

R. Vayrynen, (ed.), The Quest for Peace (Sage, 1987)

P. Wallensteen, (ed), Peace Research: Achievements and Challenges (Westview, 1988)

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