GV508-7-SP-CO:
The Analysis of Conflict and Peace
2020/21
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Sunday 17 January 2021
Friday 26 March 2021
15
01 February 2021
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.
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
This module will be delivered with (i) a weekly pre-recorded lecture and (ii) a weekly interactive lecture. The pre-recorded lecture will consist of one or more items of prepared content that students can access electronically and must study before the interactive lecture. The interactive lecture will consist of one 50-minute lecture in which students can ask questions about, and discuss various aspects of, the prepared content with the module supervisor.
Students are expected to watch the pre-recorded lecture, participate actively in discussions in the interactive lecture, and complete two pieces of assigned coursework.
Please also let me know if there is a particular gender pronoun with which you would like me to address you.
MODULE STRUCTURE AND TEACHING
This module will be delivered with (i) a weekly pre-recorded lecture and (ii) a weekly interactive lecture. The pre-recorded lecture will consist of one or more items of prepared content that students can access electronically and must study before the interactive lecture. The interactive lecture will consist of one 50-minute lecture in which students can ask questions about, and discuss various aspects of, the prepared content with the module supervisor.
Students are expected to watch the pre-recorded lecture, participate actively in discussions in the interactive lecture, and complete two pieces of assigned coursework.
Please also let me know if there is a particular gender pronoun with which you would like me to address you.
ASSESSMENT
The module is assessed by means of two assignments.
Assignment 1
Each student will need to write an essay of 3000 words on one of three questions (that will be provided in Week 20) and will be based on the readings from Week 16 to Week 22. This essay will not just be a simple summary of readings. You will also need to bring in data for this essay. The data can come from a database (e.g. Correlates of War, World Bank World Development Indicators, etc.) or a specific case-study (single or multi-country). The assignment requires you to make an argument, make connections across readings to support your argument, evaluate the empirical evidence from these readings, and bring your own data to support your argument.
Assignment 2
Each student will need to write up a research design of 2000 words on a topic of their choosing that has been approved by the Module Supervisor by Week 25. The research design should include the puzzle, a theoretical argument, the contribution of the proposed study, a description of how you would empirically address the question, and a description of how you would address the various empirical challenges. In particular, you should be explicit about any assumptions you would need to make and what kinds of violations of those assumptions could threaten your ability to make a causal argument. You do NOT need to actually conduct any analysis. This task forces you to look at the prior step of thinking critically beforehand of how you would address a question on a topic within conflict and peace research. We will discuss this assignment in more detail during Week 25
- Dorussen, Han; Ward, Hugh. (2010) 'Trade networks and the Kantian peace', in Journal of Peace Research: Sage Publications, Inc. vol. 47 (1) , pp.29-42
- Larson, Jennifer M.Lewis, Janet I. (2018) Rumors, Kinship Networks, and Rebel Group Formation.
- Dorussen, Han; Ward, Hugh. (2008) 'Intergovernmental Organizations and the Kantian Peace: A Network Perspective', in Journal of Conflict Resolution. vol. 52 (2)
- Shapiro, Jacob. (2012) 'Terrorist Decision-Making : Insights from Economics and Political Science', in Perspectives on Terrorism: Terrorism Research Initiative. vol. 6 (4/5) , pp.5-20
- Fortna, Virgina Page. (2008) 'Peacekeeping and Peacekept: Questions, Definitions, and Research Design', in Does Peacekeeping Work? : shaping belligerents' choices after civil war, Princeton University Press., pp.1-17
- ROZENAS, ARTURAS; ZHUKOV, YURI M. (2019-05) 'Mass Repression and Political Loyalty: Evidence from Stalin’s ‘Terror by Hunger’', in American Political Science Review. vol. 113 (2) , pp.569-583
- (2013) 'Poverty and Support for Militant Politics: Evidence from Pakistan', in American Journal of Political Science.
- Steven Pinker is wrong about violence and war, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/13/john-gray-steven-pinker-wrong-violence-war-declining
- Davenport, Christian; Armstrong, David A. (2004) 'Democracy and the Violation of Human Rights: A Statistical Analysis from 1976 to 1996', in American Journal of Political Science. vol. 48 (3) , pp.538-
- Svolik, Milan W. (2013) 'Contracting on Violence: The Moral Hazard in Authoritarian Repression and Military Intervention in Politics', in Contracting on Violence: The Moral Hazard in Authoritarian Repression and Military Intervention in Politics. vol. 57 (2013) , pp.765-794201357
- Cederman, Lars-ErikWimmer, AndreasMin, Brian. (2010) 'Why Do Ethnic Groups Rebel: New Data and Analysis', in Why Do Ethnic Groups Rebel: New Data and Analysis. vol. 62 (2010) , pp.87-119201062
- Horowitz, Donald. (2001) 'The Riot Episode', in The Deadly Ethnic Riot, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
- Mikulaschek, Christoph; Pant, Saurabh; Tesfaye, Beza. (2020) 'Winning Hearts and Minds in Civil Wars: Governance, Leadership Change, and ..', in American Journal of Political Science (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). vol. 64 (4) , pp.773-790
- Walter, Barbara. (no date) Committing to peace : the successful settlement of civil wars - Chapter 1.
- BLATTMAN CHRISTOPHER. (2009) 'From Violence to Voting: War and Political Participation in Uganda', in From Violence to Voting: War and Political Participation in Uganda. vol. 103 (2) , pp.231-247
- James D. Fearon and David D. Laitin. (2003) 'Ethnicity, Insurgency, and Civil War', in The American Political Science Review. vol. 97 (1) , pp.75-90
- Conrad, Courtenay R; Hill, Daniel W; Moore, Will H. (2018) 'Torture and the limits of democratic institutions', in Journal of Peace Research. vol. 55 (1) , pp.3-17
- Moore, Will H.; Shellman, Stephen M. (2007) 'Whither Will They Go? A Global Study of Refugees' Destinations, 1965-1995', in International Studies Quarterly. vol. 51 (4) , pp.811-834
- Rejali, Darius. (no date) Torture and Democracy - Introduction.
- James D. Fearon. (1995) 'Rationalist Explanations for War', in International Organization. vol. 49 (3) , pp.379-414
- Matthew Adam KocherThomas B. PepinskyStathis N. Kalyvas. (2011) 'Aerial Bombing and Counterinsurgency in the Vietnam War', in Aerial Bombing and Counterinsurgency in the Vietnam War. vol. 55 (2) , pp.201-218
- What are the Trends in Armed Conflicts and What Do They Mean for U.S. Defense Policy, https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1900/RR1904/RAND_RR1904.pdf
- Rozenas, Arturas; Schutte, Sebastian; Zhukov, Yuri. (2017-10) 'The Political Legacy of Violence: The Long-Term Impact of Stalin’s Repression in Ukraine', in The Journal of Politics. vol. 79 (4) , pp.1147-1161
- Dube, Oeindrilla; Vargas, Juan. (2013) 'Commodity Price Shocks and Civil Conflict: Evidence from Colombia', in The Review of Economic Studies: Oxford University Press. vol. 80 (4) , pp.1384-1421
- Hassner, Ron. (2003) 'To Halve and to Hold: Conflicts over Sacred Space and the problem of Indivisibility', in Security Studies. vol. 12 (4) , pp.1-33
- Lars-Erik Cederman; Nils B. Weidmann; Kristian Skrede Gleditsch. (2011) 'Horizontal Inequalities and Ethnonationalist Civil War: A Global Comparison', in The American Political Science Review. vol. 105 (3) , pp.478-495
- Andrea Ruggeri; Theodora-Ismene Gizelis; Han Dorussen. (2013) 'Managing Mistrust: An Analysis of Cooperation with UN Peacekeeping in Africa', in Journal of Conflict Resolution. vol. 57 (3) , pp.387-409
- Huntington, Samuel. (1993) 'The Clash of Civilizations', in Foreign Affairs: Council on Foreign Relations. vol. 72 (3) , pp.22-49
- Greitens, Sheena. (no date) Dictators and their Secret Police: Coercive Institutions and State Violence - Chapter 1.
- Lake, David. (2010/11) 'Two Cheers for Bargaining Theory: Assessing Rationalist Explanations of the Iraq War', in International Security: The MIT Press. vol. 35 (3) , pp.7-52
- Wilkinson, Steven. (2004) Votes and violence: electoral competition and ethnic riots in India, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Collier, Paul; Hoeffler, Anke. (2004) 'Greed and Grievance in Civil War', in Oxford Economic Papers: Oxford University Press. vol. 56 (4) , pp.563-595
- The Psychology of Evil, https://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_the_psychology_of_evil?language=en
- JHA SAUMITRA. (2013) 'Trade, Institutions, and Ethnic Tolerance: Evidence from South Asia', in Trade, Institutions, and Ethnic Tolerance: Evidence from South Asia. vol. 107 (4) , pp.806-832
- (1999-01-10) 'The Kantian Peace: The Pacific Benefits of Democracy, Interdependence, and International Organizations, 1885-1992', in World Politics: The Johns Hopkins University Press. vol. 52 (1) , pp.1-37
- Gilligan, Michael J.; Pasquale, Benjamin J.; Samii, Cyrus. (2014-07) 'Civil War and Social Cohesion: Lab-in-the-Field Evidence from Nepal', in American Journal of Political Science. vol. 58 (3) , pp.604-619
- Angrist, Joshua David; Pischke, J?n-Steffen. (2009) Mostly harmless econometrics: an empiricist's companion - Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, Oxford: Princeton University Press.
- Fiske, Susan; Harris, Lasana; Cuddy, Amy. (2004-11-26) 'Why Ordinary People Torture Enemy Prisoners', in Science. vol. 306 (5701) , pp.1482-1483
- Cronin, Audrey. (no date) How terrorism ends : understanding the decline and demise of terrorist campaigns - Introduction.
- Mitts, Tamar. (2019) From Isolation to Radicalization: Anti-Muslim Hostility and Support for ISIS in the West.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Assignment 1 |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Assignment 2 |
|
50% |
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 Saurabh Pant, email: sp20266@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Saurabh Pant
Dr Saurabh Pant, sp20266@essex.ac.uk; Module Administrator: Jamie Seakens, govpgquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Nicholas Walter Vivyan
University of Durham
Senior Lecturer
Dr Damien Bol
King's College London
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 619 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
619 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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