Making Peace Not War: Sustainable Peace and Conflict Resolution

Violent conflict is the most challenging problem of our times. In 2018, there were more than 200 on-going conflicts around the globe. Across the twentieth century over 123 million people were killed as a direct result of conflict within or between states.

This minor sets out to examine the causes and responses to conflict, with a particular focus on how the international community has responded to war, mass atrocities and genocide. In particular, it will examine both the diplomatic and military aspects of peace operations, going beyond traditional explanatory frameworks to identify and analyse the factors that lead to the peaceful resolution of conflict.

The minor introduces a range of different actors (both state and non-state), examines the role of crucial institutions in peacebuilding such as the UN and NATO and looks at the root causes of conflict including ethnic violence, socio-economic depravation, famine, and the struggle to control resources. In analysing this wide range of the root causes of conflict, the minor focuses on key actors including small and medium states, indigenous groups, women, civil society and regional groups.

This multidisciplinary minor is offered by the Lectoraat (Research group) on United Nations Studies in Peace and Justice, which is positioned halfway between The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Leiden University. Lecturers from various backgrounds, such as political science, law, history, security studies and anthropology work together. Multiple experts from the professional practice, such as the Dutch military, international organisations, non-governmental and research institutions, share insights from practice with students and engage you to contribute with your ideas to peacebuilding solutions!

To pass the minor, students need to show their solutions to make peace instead of war. They participate in seminars, submit an individual research essay, join group role plays, visit and reflect on external United Nations-related events, and translate insights from the literature and the guest speakers to practice by various means. Registration is open for all students with a good command of English from all programs of The Hague University of Applied Sciences and also from other universities of applied sciences.

Learning Goals

Upon successful completion of the minor, students should be able to:

1. Describe the process through which violent conflict erupts
2. Differentiate between the political, social, economic and ethical dilemmas that arise with the outbreak of conflict
3. Identify the potential and actual tools available to the international community to construct regimes of sustainable peace
4. Examine the role of a wide variety of actors in peacebuilding
5. Establish whether or not the international community has the potential to adequately respond to war
6. Evaluate post conflict situations in light of existing or proposed measures to strengthen peacebuilding efforts in war-torn regions

Registration is open for all students at the third year of study or higher, with a good command of English from all programmes of The Hague University of Applied Sciences.

1. J. Koops, N. MacQueen, T. Tardy and P. Williams, The Oxford Handbook of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015/2017)

    

   Ferejohn, J., & McCall Rosenbluth, F. (2017). Forged Through Fire, War Peace and the Democratic Bargain. New York, USA: Norton & Company.

    

   Material on Brightspace;

    

   PC or laptop.

Lectures, Workshops, Seminars, Guest lectures, Consultation hours, Group assignments, Individual assignments, Participation in events, Online recordings, Research Paper writing, Reflection writing, Presentations, Readings.
The study load will be divided among the various teaching methods. This will take into account the ECTS of the course, the test weights, the COVID-19 situation and the student and lecturers evaluation outcomes.

• Testing: 

  research paper / participation

  PORTFOLIO

  60%

  multiple choice test

  WRITTEN EXAM

  20%

  democracy comparison

  GROUP ASSIGNMENT

  20%

   

  The grade for each test must be minimum 5,5 to pass the minor.

   

  Planning of the testing (per partial test when applicable):

  1.      week 10 / week 17

  2.      week 5 + 9 / week 14

  3.      week 10 / week 14

The minor contributes to:  

• The relation between Research & Education (cooperation of lectorates and programmes, involving students in research, involving lectors/researchers in education, while focusing on topics of the professional practice, and working with partners) 
• The strategic relationship between THUAS and Leiden University (MOU) 
• World Citizenship, Internationalisation and Network University (WIN) 

Minor coordination by the Research Group (Lectoraat /Chair) of UN Studies, in collaboration with International Public Management at BRV.