COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LISTS - POLI 347: INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

 

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

POLI 347: INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

 1^st Semester, 2017/2018

Lecturer: Dr. Seidu  M. Alidu                                                 

Office: Room 12 Political Science Dept.

e-mail: seidualidu@gmail.com                                

Venue: JQB 09

Time: Mondays 5:30 – 7:20pm

Course Title	INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Course Code	POLI 347
Course Overview	This course introduces students to the nature, types, structure and dynamics of international conflicts as well as the mechanisms used in addressing them. It will explore the conflict behaviour of states at the international arena, the impact of such behaviour and the likely conflict resolution mechanisms needed to address them. Also, the course aims at keeping students abreast with post-conflict peace building strategies; the role of international institutions such as the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and ad-hoc tribunals in addressing human rights violations during periods of transitions and the general role of culture in these endeavours. The latter part of the course involves demonstrating some of the concepts and theories discussed in class via case studies.
Outcomes	At the end of the course students should be able to understand, discuss and differentiate between the basic terminologies of international conflict; identify and explain the sources, dynamics and types of conflict within the national and international levels, and prescribe relevant strategies for attending to them.
Week No.	Lecture Course	Reading List
1	THE NATURE AND DYNAMICS OF INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT	Miall, Ramsbotham, O. and Woodhouse, T. (1999) Contemporary Conflict Resolution, Cambridge : Polity Press (Chapter 1 “Introduction to Conflict Resolution” pp.5 – 22; Chapter 3 “Understanding Contemporary Conflicts” pp.65 – 91) Woodhouse, T. and Duffey, T. (2000) Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution, New York: UNITAR-POCI (Lesson 2 “The Nature of Conflict” pp.19 -27; Lesson 4 “Contemporary Conflict Dynamics” pp.60 – 71) Mitchell, C (1981) The Structure of International Conflict, London: Macmillan Harbom, L. and P. Wallensteen (2010) “Armed Conflict, 1946 – 2009” Journal of Peace Research, 47(4):501 -509 Stewart, J.G. (2003) “Towards a single definition of armed conflict in international humanitarian  law: a critique of internationalized armed conflict” IRRC, 85(850): 313-350
2&3	FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION	Woodhouse, T. and Duffey, T. (2000) Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution, New York: UNITAR-POCI (Lesson 3 “Key Concepts of Conflict Resolution” pp.31 – 53) Barash, D.P. and Webel, C.P. (eds.) (2009) Peace and Conflict Studies, 2nd edition, Thousand Oaks, California, Sage Publication (Chapter 11, “Diplomacy, Negotiations and Conflict Resolution” pp.243-262) Miall, Ramsbotham, O. and Woodhouse, T. (1999) Contemporary Conflict Resolution, Cambridge : Polity Press (Chapter 1 “Introduction to Conflict Resolution” pp.5 – 22; Chapter 3 “Understanding Contemporary Conflicts” pp.65 – 91) Barash, D.P. and Webel, C.P. (eds.) (2009) Peace and Conflict Studies, 2nd edition, Thousand Oaks, California, Sage Publication (Chapter 11 “Diplomacy, Negotiations, and Conflict Resolution” pp. 243 – 262) Williams, P. W. (ed.) (2008) Security Studies: An Introduction, Oxon: Routledge Avruch, K. (1999) Culture and Conflict Resolution, Washington, USIP Press
4&5	TECHNIQUES & APPROACHES TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION	Harris P. and B. Reilly (eds.) (1998) Democracy and Deep-Rooted Conflict: Options for Negotiators, Stockholm: IDEA (Chapter 3 “Negotiation Processes”  pp.59- 120 ) Last, D. M. (1995/96), "Peacekeeping Doctrine and Conflict Resolution Techniques", Armed Forces & Society, 22(2): 187-210. Woodhouse, T. and Duffey, T. (2000) Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution, New York: UNITAR-POCI (Lesson 3 “Key Concepts of Conflict Resolution” pp.31 – 53) Barash, D.P. and Webel, C.P. (eds.) (2009) Peace and Conflict Studies, 2nd edition, Thousand Oaks, California, Sage publication Williams, P. W. (ed.) (2008) Security Studies: An Introduction, Oxon: Routledge Avruch, K. (1999) Culture and Conflict Resolution, Washington, USIP Press
6&7	CONFLICT MAPPING AND TRACKING	Woodhouse, T. and Duffey, T. (2000) Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution, New York: UNITAR-POCI (Lesson 5 “Conflict Mapping” pp.75-90) Miall, Ramsbotham and Woodhouse (1999) Contemporary Conflict Resolution, Cambridge : Polity Press (Chapter 3 “Conflict Mapping and Conflict Tracking” pp.91-4) Harris P. and B. Reilly (eds.) (1998) Democracy and Deep-Rooted Conflict: Options for Negotiators, Stockholm: IDEA (Chapter 2 “Analysing Deep-Rooted Conflict” pp.29-58)
8&9	PEACEKEEPING & INTERVENTION IN WAR-ZONES	Woodhouse, T. and Duffey, T. (2000) Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution, New York: UNITAR-POCI (Lesson 7 “Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution in War Zones” pp.115-133) Hansen, W. Ramsbotham, O. Woodhouse, T. (2001) “Hawks and Doves: Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution” Berghof Research Centre for Constructive Conflict Management, March. Aksu, E. (2003) New Approaches to Conflict Management: The United Nations, intra-state peacekeeping and Normative Change, Manchester: Manchester University Press Lund, M. (1996), Preventing Violent Conflicts. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace. Peck, C. (1998), Sustainable Peace: The Role of the United Nations and Regional Organisations in Preventing Conflict. Lanham, NJ: Roman and Littlefield. Miall, Ramsbotham, O. and Woodhouse, T. (1999) Contemporary Conflict Resolution, Cambridge : Polity Press (Chapter 5 “Working in War Zones” pp.128 – 151)
10&11	HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARANIAN LAWS IN ARMED CONFLICT	Siatitsa, I. and Titberidze, M. (2011)  "Human Rights in Armed Conflict From the Perspective of the Contemporary State Practice in the United Nations: Factual Answers to Certain Hypothetical Challenges", ADH Research Paper Bassiouni, M.C. (2002) (ed.) Post-Conflict Justice, New York: Transnational Press Inc. (Chapter 1 “Accountability for Violations of International Humanitarian Law and Other Serious Violations of Human Rights, pp. 3 – 54;  “International Law Principles on Accountability, pp.89 – 96;  “Universal Jurisdiction for International Crimes: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Practice, pp.945 – 1002) Cordula, D. (2007) “The Interplay between International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law in Situations of Armed Conflict”, Israel Law Review, 40 (2) p. 310. Doswald-Beck, L. (2006) “The right to life in armed conflict: does international humanitarian law provide all the answers?”, 864 International Review of the Red Cross, Hampson, F. and Salama, I., “Working paper on the relationship between human rights law and international humanitarian law”, UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/14 (21 June 2005). Lubell, N. (2005) “Challenges in Applying Human Rights Law to Armed Conflict”, 860 International Review of the Red Cross,
12&13	INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS	Akande, D. (2003) “The Jurisdiction of the ICC over Nationals and Non-parties: Legal Basis and Limits” Journal of International Criminal Justice, 1(3), pp. 618 – 650 Benzing, M. (2003) “The Complementarity Regime of the ICC: International Criminal Justice between State Sovereignty and the Fight against Impunity” in von Bogdandy, A. and Wolfrum, R. (eds.) (2003) Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law, Vol. 7, pp.591-632 Cronin-Furman, R. K. (2006) “The International Court of Justice and the United Nations Security Council: Rethinking a Complicated Relationship” Columbia Law Review, 106(435), pp.435 – 463 Kammerhofer, J. and de Hoogh, A. (2008) “All Things to All People? The International Criminal Justice and its Commentator” The European Journal of International Law, 18(5), pp. 971 - 984 Andreas, Z. Tomuschat, C.  and Oellers-Frahm, K. (eds.) (2006) The Statute of the International Court of Justice: A Commentary, Oxford: Oxford University Press
14	REVISION

Key Readings

• Barash, D.P. and Webel, C.P. (eds.) (2009) Peace and Conflict Studies, 2^nd edition, Thousand Oaks, California, Sage publication
• Williams, P. W. (ed.) (2008) Security Studies: An Introduction, Oxon: Routledge
• Avruch, K. (1999) Culture and Conflict Resolution, Washington, USIP Press
• Woodhouse, T. and Duffey, T. (2000) Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution, New York: UNITAR-POCI
• Lederach, J. P. (1997) Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies, Washington DC: USIP Press
• Lederach, J. P. (1995) Preparing for Peace: Conflict Transformation across Cultures, New York: Syracuse University Press
• Bassiouni, M.C. (2002) (ed.) Post-Conflict Justice, New York: Transnational Press Inc.
• Miall, Ramsbotham and Woodhouse (1999) Contemporary Conflict Resolution, Cambridge : Polity Press

Grading: There will be one end of semester examination and one mid-term or interim assessment (IA) which will be 30% of your final grade, while the final exam will make up 70% of the final grade of 100%. Details will be given at lectures. As a matter of course, the exam will cover class and assigned readings and class discussions.

 Note: Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. (See Student Handbook for penalties).