GV508-7-SP-CO:
The Analysis of Conflict and Peace
2017/18
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 15 January 2018
Friday 23 March 2018
15
-
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
Module description
This module focuses on contemporary conflict and peace research and the concept and tools necessary to be able to follow current research in this area. Whereas many courses focus on "knowing that", or familiarizing students with particular facts or existing contributions to the literature, our emphasis here will very much be on "knowing how", or the underlying logic of theoretical arguments about war and peace and how researchers evaluate these. In particular, we will not focus on meta-theories such as realism or liberalism, which postulate a set of core assumptions and general propositions on how international relations are held to operate, but instead look at the implications entailed by different theories and arguments on war and peace, and think of ways to evaluate if these are consistent with empirical patterns. We will examine the relationship between theory and evidence, measurement, and research design in research on war and peace. The specific theories and issues we will examine include conflict trends, the relationship of power, preferences, economic relations, domestic politics, and international organizations to conflict and peace.
No information available.
No information available.
Objectives of the module
By the end of the module the students should have achieved the following:
• Have a good overview and understanding of current theories on the causes of war and peace
• Understand current controversies on the causes of war and peace using the theories discussed in the course
• Understand core issues regarding how one would evaluate the implications of distinct theories and assess the validity of theoretical and empirical claims
• Practical knowledge of data sources relevant to conflict and basic analysis skills
Key skills
The module seeks to develop or enhance the following key skills:
• Analyzing theories and cases trains students’ analytical skills
• Analyzing the case material trains students in developing research design.
• Analyzing the case material trains students’ numeracy skills
• Report writing trains students’ writing skills
• Analysis and evaluation in the light of theory requires critical thinking
Module organization
Teaching on the module consists of
a) weekly 1 hour lecture and
b) a weekly 1 hour lab session throughout the Spring term .
Workload
Students are expected to participate actively in discussions in the seminar and must complete three pieces of assigned coursework. Note that the coursework will require students to make use of the free statistics package R, available at http://www.r-project.org (no prior knowledge of R is assumed).
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Assignment 1 |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Assignment 2 |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Assignment 3 |
|
40% |
Additional coursework information
The FASer deadline will be no later than 9.45am on the module lecture day. Failure to submit the electronic copy by this deadline will incur a mark of zero.
You will be able to access the on-line submission via your myEssex portal or via
FASer allows you to store your work-in-progress. This facility provides you with an ideal place to keep partially completed copies of your work and ensures that no work, even drafts, are lost. If you have any problems up-loading your coursework, you should contact ltt@essex.ac.uk. You may find it helpful to look at the FASer troubleshooting guide http://www.essex.ac.uk/government/resources/troubleshoot.aspx
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Martin Steinwand, email: martin.steinwand@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Martin Steinwand
Dr Martin Steinwand, email: martin.steinwand@essex.ac.uk; Administrator: Alex West, awestb@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Nicholas Walter Vivyan
University of Durham
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 30 hours, 10 (33.3%) hours available to students:
20 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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