Peace Building and Development: Examining the Intersections
- NINT 5245 - Peace Building and Development: Examining the Intersections (Spring 2008)
The interconnections between conflict, development and peace are many and profound. One only needs to examine the current global context characterized by high levels of violent protracted conflict and inexcusable and rising levels of poverty and inequality – two phenomena that are often found together and that intermingle in complex ways. For many countries and regions in conflict and transition from war to peace in the Global South, the role of economics and development cannot be separated from understanding the causes of conflict and forms of peacebuilding that will endure. Where peace and conflict resolution efforts fail to address economic and social development issues – so often the roots of conflict – the result is the building of straw houses rather than the strong institutional foundations rooted in the human development needs of people, which are necessary for securing a lasting peace. From the other end of the spectrum, development policies and programs at all levels have historically generated ‘winners’ and ‘losers’, catalyzing and/or exacerbating social conflicts. In post-conflict and transitional settings it is vital to get new policies right – particularly those that can simultaneously serve to address peace and development needs.
This course aims to critically examine these issues, assessing the institutional frameworks and human capacities needed to further these goals. The roles and economic motives of different actors will be examined, alongside the peacebuilding and development dimensions of key thematic security issues such as disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration (DDRR) and security sector reform (SSR), as well as economic policy processes, such as the Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) - common in post-conflict settings. Best and worst practice cases internationally will be debated. Through examination and debate of critical and authoritative texts from leading practitioners, policymakers and theorists, students will come away from the class with new knowledge, analytical skills, and ideas and strategies for action designed to facilitate people-centered, sustainable development and positive peace.
Week 1: Peace, Conflict and Development - The Linkages
Week 2: The Economic Roots of Conflict
Week 3: Economic Policy and Structural Violence
Week 4: Globalization and Conflict
Week 5: Aid and Conflict
Week 6: Natural Resources, Conflict and Peacebuilding
Week 7: Women, Conflict and Peace
Week 8: Youth, Conflict and Peace
Week 9: Human Security and Human Development
Week 10: The Role of Economics in Peace Processes
Week 11: Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Week 12: Militarization and Demilitarization
Week 13: Peace and Conflict Sensitive Approaches to Development
Week 14: Non-Violence and Social Mobilization for Peace and Change
Concentrations:Conflict and Security, Development