SOC41170

This module aspires to provide the students with the theoretical and conceptual apparatus on conflict, peace and justice. It provides deeper understanding of the key notions in relation to peace, conflict and justice with the focus on various ‘’peace’’ practices that emerge after wars and violence. The main aim of the module is to critically assess the various global paradigms, such as transitional justice and peacebuilding, to determine their outcomes on the ground. We will be discussing various practices embedded in the current ‘’agenda for peace’’ such as criminal prosecution and legal mechanisms, truth commissions, dialogue groups, memorialization efforts, projects that relate to dealing with the different forms of post-conflict trauma, as well as other economic and social initiatives.
The first part of the module is set to provide sociological definitions of the key concepts such as conflict, genocide, peace, justice, reconciliation and memorialization. After that we will dive deep into various case studies from around the globe, such as Rwanda, South Africa, Canada, Bosnia, Cambodia, Argentina and much more, to assess the peace efforts and their short and long term benefits and disadvantages. The focus will be given to the students’ understanding of the various forms and mechanisms that are currently in place for promoting peace efforts, but also to brainstorm other, unexplored options.
All students need to make an individual presentation during the course of the module (30 %) and to write a final essay on a particular case study (70 %).