Civil Wars: Onset, Dynamics and Termination

Master 2019/2020

Type: Elective course (International Relations in Eurasia)

Area of studies: International Relations

Delivered by: Магистерская программа "Международные отношения в Евразии", направление подготовки "Международные отношения" (Кент)

Where: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

When: 2 year, 1 module

Mode of studies: offline

Master’s programme: International Relations in Eurasia

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 32

Full Syllabus

Abstract

There are three main goals of this course. First, the class will provide a survey of the recent literature on the concept of “civil war” as well as the origins, dynamics, end, and post-war transitions of this phenomenon. Second, each student will adopt one civil war and explore it in depth, both learning the details of their specific conflict, and learning how to apply the analytical framework and theory you learn in this course to a particular civil war of your choosing. Students will also learn broadly about other civil wars in the post-WWII period through readings in the syllabus. The course will draw attention to civil wars in the post- Soviet region. Third, students will learn critical thinking and writing skills, which will be developed through the on-line discussions and weekly assignments.

Learning Objectives

Describe theories of civil war onset, dynamics, and termination.
Describe in close detail one civil war from the post-WWII period.
Analyze debates related to different theoretical frameworks for each component of civil war studies.
Determine different theoretical frameworks and how they apply to the studies of civil war.
Develop a presentation that applies general civil war theories to specific cases of civil wars in the post-WWII period.
Draw connections between different civil wars and critically reflect on their strengths and weaknesses.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Capacity to evaluate different civil war theories while integrating knowledge of those theories
Demonstrate knowledge of theories related to civil war onset, dynamics, and termination as well as debates related to their efficacy
Interpret, compare, and contrast ideas related to civil wars

Course Contents

TRENDS IN GLOBAL, INTRA-STATE CONFLICT
DEFINITIONS OF CIVIL WAR
THE ROLE OF THE STATE
“GREED, OPPORTUNITY, GRIEVANCE”
CAUSES OF CIVIL WAR: IDENTITY CONFLICT
TYPES OF CIVIL WAR: IDENTITY CONFLICTS VS IDEOLOGICAL
DYNAMICS: DURATION OF CIVIL WARS
DYNAMICS: TERRORISM AND TARGETING CIVILIANS DURING CIVIL WAR STATE-LED AND NON-STATE ACTORS
ENDING THE WAR: INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION
ENDING CIVIL WAR III: PARTITION
ENDING THE WAR: INTERNAL SOLUTIONS
NEGOTIATED SOLUTIONS
ENDING THE WAR: PEACEKEEPING
POST CONFLICT PEACE

Assessment Elements

Presentation
Exam
In-class quiz
In-class quiz
In-class quiz
In-class quiz
In-class quiz
In-class quiz
In-class quiz

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (1 module)
0.4 * Exam + 0.05 * In-class quiz + 0.05 * In-class quiz + 0.05 * In-class quiz + 0.05 * In-class quiz + 0.05 * In-class quiz + 0.05 * In-class quiz + 0.05 * In-class quiz + 0.25 * Presentation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

(2012-04-20). Garfinkel, M., & Skaperdas, S. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Peace and Conflict. : Oxford University Press.
Aoi, C., De, C. C., & Thakur, R. C. (2007). Unintended consequences of peacekeeping operations.
Atieno, Christine, and Colin Robinson, eds. Post-conflict Security, Peace and Development: Perspectives from Africa, Latin America, Europe and New Zealand. Vol. 13. Springer, 2018.
Bernauer, Eva. Identities in Civil Conflict. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, 2016.
Between Terrorism and Civil War : The Al-Aqsa Intifada, edited by Clive Jones, and Ami Pedahzur, Routledge, 2005.
Boritt, G. S., & Blight, D. W. (Eds.). (1997). Why the Civil War Came. Oxford University Press on Demand.
Building Peace, Creating Conflict? : Conflictual Dimensions of Local and International Peacebuilding, edited by Hanne Fjelde, and Kristine Höglund, Nordic Academic Press, 2012.
Collier, Paul, and Paul Collier. Breaking the Conflict Trap : Civil War and Development Policy, World Bank Publications, 2003.
Francisco, Ronald A. Dynamics of conflict. No. F/303.6 F7. New York: Springer, 2009.
Galyan, A. (2011). Peace by Design: Managing Intrastate Conflict through Decentralization.
Gheciu, Alexandra, and William C. Wohlforth, eds. The Oxford Handbook of International Security. Oxford University Press, 2018.
Guo, Rongxing. Territorial Disputes and Conflict Management : The Art of Avoiding War, Routledge, 2011.
Hirshfield, Claire. The Diplomacy of Partition: Britain, France and the Creation of Nigeria, 1890–1898. Vol. 2. Springer Science & Business Media, 2012.
Holsti, Kalevi. Kalevi Holsti: Major Texts on War, the State, Peace, and International Order. Vol. 42. Springer, 2016.
Koko, Jacques L., and Essoh J. M. C. Essis. Determinants of Success in UN Peacekeeping Operations, UPA, 2012.
Koops, J. A., MacQueen, N., Tardy, T., & Williams, P. D. (Eds.). (2015). The Oxford handbook of United Nations peacekeeping operations. Oxford University Press, USA.
Kurtz, Lester R., and Jennifer Turpin, eds. Encyclopedia of violence, peace, and conflict. Vol. 1. Academic Press, 2008.
Lieblich, Eliav. International Law and Civil Wars : Intervention and Consent, Routledge, 2013.
Malet, David. Foreign Fighters: Transnational Identity in Civic Conflicts. : Oxford University Press, May 23, 2013.
McKeown, Shelley, et al. Understanding Peace and Conflict Through Social Identity Theory : Contemporary Global Perspectives. Springer, Cham, 2016.
Miodownik, D., & Barak, O. (Eds.). (2013). Nonstate actors in intrastate conflicts. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
Oktav, Ozden Zeynep, and Emel Parlar DalAli Murat Kursun. Violent Non-state Actors and the Syrian Civil War. Springer, 2018.
Peace Operations and Organized Crime : Enemies or Allies?, edited by James Cockayne, and Adam Lupel, Routledge, 2011.
Rupesinghe, Kumar, ed. Internal conflict and governance. Springer, 2016.
Schechter, Michael G., ed. Future Multilateralism: The Political and Social Framework. Springer, 2016.
Schnabel, Albrecht. Recovering from Civil Conflict : Reconciliation, Peace and Development, edited by Edward Newman, and Albrecht Schnabel, Routledge, 2002.
Schneckener, Ulrich, and Stefan Wolff. Managing and settling ethnic conflicts: perspectives on successes and failures in Europe, Africa, and Asia. London: Hurst, 2004.
Securing Peace : State-Building and Economic Development in Post-Conflict Countries, edited by Richard Kozul-Wright, and Piergiuseppe Fortunato, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2011.
Siver, Christi. Military interventions, war crimes, and protecting civilians. Springer, 2018.
Sorenson, D. S., & Wood, P. C. (Eds.). (2005). The politics of peacekeeping in the post-cold war era.
Strengthening Peace in Post-Civil War States : Transforming Spoilers into Stakeholders, edited by Matthew Hoddie, and Caroline A. Hartzell, University of Chicago Press, 2010.
Tadokoro, Masayuki, Susumu Egashira, and Kazuya Yamamoto, eds. Emerging Risks in a World of Heterogeneity: Interactions Among Countries with Different Sizes, Polities and Societies. Vol. 10. Springer, 2018.
Tannam, Etain. International Intervention in Ethnic Conflict: A Comparison of the European Union and the United Nations. Springer, 2014.
Wagner, R. Harrison. War and the State : The Theory of International Politics, University of Michigan Press, 2007.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

International Intervention : Sovereignty Versus Responsibility, edited by Michael Keren, and Donald A. Sylvan, Routledge, 2002.
Nalbandov, Robert. Foreign Interventions in Ethnic Conflicts, Routledge, 2009.
The Slippery Slope to Genocide: Reducing Identity Conflicts and Preventing Mass Murder. Eds. Zartman, I. William, Mark Anstey, and Paul Meerts. : Oxford University Press, January 19, 2012.
Tropp, Linda R., and Linda Tropp, eds. The Oxford handbook of intergroup conflict. Oxford University Press, 2012.

Course Syllabus