POLI 358: CONFLICT AND SOCIETY IN AFRICA COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR 2017/2018 ACADEMIC YEAR

Title of Course: CONFLICT AND SOCIETY IN AFRICA

Course Code: POLI 358

Credits: 3

Course Instructor: Seidu Alidu, PhD

Office: Political Science Dep’t, No. 12

Email: seidualidu@gmail.com

Office Hours: Fridays 10-1:00am

PREAMBLE (AIM AND OBJECTIVE I.E., JUSTIFICATION)

Conflicts provide the friction in life that help us to move on. Depending on how the conflict energy is expressed, the outcome of conflicts could be positive for general society growth, contrary to the popular perception that conflicts are bad. The African continent has a notorious record of being the hot bed of conflicts in the world, especially those that are identity based and overly protracted. In this course we are generally going to explore the generic model, unified theories and individual explanations to the causes of these conflicts; the energy they feed on and the manner that they could be dealt it. We shall also explore the processes as well as communal and state levels strategies that are employed in response. Finally we shall analyze the outcomes of these conflicts and its effects on vulnerable groups such as women and children as well the entire society.

COURSE CONTENT

The course begins with the nature and evolution of conflicts in Africa, the theoretical assumptions and contending perspectives that underpin these dynamics. From these generic levels, the course will move to deal with narrowly specific topics such as the role of gender, religion and culture in societal based conflicts in Africa. It will end with the examination of mechanisms that are employed to deal with conflicts and restore the moral fabric that are destroyed when societies fight. It will specifically look at both restorative and retributive mechanisms as well as the role of leadership and governance in Africa in the prevention, managing and the resolution of these conflicts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course students should be able to understand the nature and dynamics of conflicts; appreciate the theoretical assumptions that underpin them; analyze the causes of conflicts using both generic models and specific explanations; and finally, students should be able to predict the outcomes and proffer solutions to conflicts. Main learning approach will be:

·Interactive lectures

·Use of Case studies

·Use of tutorial sessions discussing published literature.

Plagiarism and Cheating       

Plagiarism, which is representing somebody’s work as your own, as well as cheating in all forms, must be avoided. The consequences of these behaviors are not worth mentioning in this class. Check University of Handbook for details.

REQUIRED READING

·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, H. Ramsbotham, O. and Woodhouse, T. (2001) Contemporary Conflict

Resolution, Cambridge: Polity Press

·Zartman, William (ed.) Governance as Conflict Management: Politics and Violence in West Africa. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press

DETAILED WEEKLY SYNOPSIS

Week	Topics to be Taught	Learning Outcomes	Preparations/readings	Discussions and Follow-up activities
1	Nature and Evolution of Conflicts in African Societies	-To explain the nature of African conflicts -To understand the diversity of Conflicts in Africa	Mazrui(2008): pp. 36-50: Williams (2011); pp. 13-35; Ramsbotham, et, al (2011):pp. 94-122; Manuh and Sutherland -Addy (2013) Chapter7,  pp. 151 -164	State vs. non-state based conflicts: positions vs. interest in conflict; positive vs. negative conflict energy; Galtung’s conflict triangle.
2	Nature and Evolution of Conflicts in African Societies II	To comprehend the nature and diversity of African societies  To appreciate the causes of conflicts of Africa based on the diversity above	Mazrui(2008): pp.36-50: Williams (2011); pp. 13-35; Ramsbotham, et, al (2011):pp. 94-122; Manuh and Sutherland-Addy (2013) Chapter 7, pp. 151-164	Nature of African society; the African worldview of conflict; negative vs. positive peace; structural, cultural and direct violence; levels of societal violence
3	Theoretical assumptions and contending perspectives of Conflicts in Africa I	-To understand the theoretical foundation of conflicts in Africa -To appreciate the context and assumptions governing the causes of African conflicts	Ramsbotham, et, al (2011):pp. 94-122; Woodhouse and Duffy, Chapter 1 “Introduction to Conflict Resolution” pp.5 – 22; Chapter 3 “Understanding Contemporary Conflicts” pp.65 – 91	Edward Azar’s Protracted Social Conflict Theory; the Greed and Grievance Theory; the Interpretative Framework for Conflict Analysis
4	Theoretical assumptions and contending perspectives of Conflicts in Africa II	-To understand and use data in the analysis of conflicts -To help students support theoretical explanations with data;	Ramsbotham, et, al (2011):pp. 94-122; Woodhouse and Duffy, Chapter 1 “Introduction to Conflict Resolution” pp.5 – 22; Chapter 3 “Understanding Contemporary Conflicts” pp.65 – 91	The Political Instability Taskforce Explanation; the Monty Marshall’s Explanation; the Uppsala Conflict data analysis; SIPRI data analysis
5	Gender and Conflicts in Africa I	-To explain how conflict affect the sexes differently -To demonstrate the role women in African conflicts	Bannon, I., Tsjeard, B., & Frerks, G. (2004); DeLaat, J. (1999); Mann, L. (October 1994).	The distinction between sex and gender; women as victims and perpetrators of war; rape as a weapon of war; the gendered role in conflict resolution
6	Gender and Conflicts in Africa II	-To show the effects and impact of conflicts on women -To understand the contribution of women in conflict resolution outcomes	Bannon, I., Tsjeard, B., & Frerks, G. (2004); DeLaat, J. (1999); Mann, L. (October 1994).	The distinction between sex and gender; women as victims and perpetrators of war; rape as a weapon of war; the gendered role in conflict resolution
7	Culture, Religion and Africa Conflicts I	-To appreciate the varieties of religions and culture that exists in the continent -To explain the role of culture and religion as causes of conflicts	Avruch, K. and Black, P Avruch, K. Black, P. and Joseph, A.S. (2009). (1991); Lederach, J. P. (1995); Avruch, K. (1999)	Universal vs. cultural relative conflict practices; etic vs.emic conceptions of conflict; ethnopraxe vs. ethnoconflict assumptions;
9	Culture, Religion and Africa Conflicts II	-To appreciate the role of religion and culture as conflict resolution mechanisms -To appreciate the various traditional and cultural conflict resolution mechanisms that exist	Avruch, K. and Black, P Avruch, K. Black, P. and Joseph, A.S. (2009). (1991); Lederach, J. P. (1995); Avruch, K. (1999)	Traditional and cultural reconciliation mechanisms: mato oput ceremony, gacaca courts, burning of arrows etc.
10	Reconciliation and building cohesive societies after conflicts I	-To appreciate the different modes of healing and reconciliation after conflicts; -To understand the importance of societal healing and how to achieve it	Lederach, J. P (1997); Lederach, J. P. (1999); Bassiouni, M.C. (2002); Minow, M. (1998)	Restorative vs. Retributive justice mechanism; the hybrid system; ad-hoc tribunals; national justice systems; Truth and Reconciliation Commissions; Traditional justice healing mechanisms
11	Reconciliation and building cohesive societies after conflicts II	-To appreciate the different modes of healing and reconciliation after conflicts; -To understand the importance of societal healing and how to achieve it	Lederach, J. P (1997); Lederach, J. P. (1999); Bassiouni, M.C. (2002); Minow, M. (1998)	Restorative vs. Retributive justice mechanism; the hybrid system; ad-hoc tribunals; national justice systems; Truth and Reconciliation Commissions; Traditional justice healing mechanisms
12	Governance and Leadership in African conflict resolution I	-To appreciate the role of governance structures in the start and resolution of conflicts -To understand the critical role of leadership in conflict resolution	Ramsbotham, et, al (2011):pp. 94-122; Woodhouse and Duffy, Chapter 1 “Introduction to Conflict Resolution” pp.5 – 22; Chapter 3 “Understanding Contemporary Conflicts” pp.65 – 91	Leadership skills and styles; Leadership and public policy making; Governance vs. Good governance: Conditions and benchmarks for good governance.
13	Governance and Leadership in African conflict resolution II		Ramsbotham, et, al (2011):pp. 94-122; Woodhouse and Duffy, Chapter 1 “Introduction to Conflict Resolution” pp.5 – 22; Chapter 3 “Understanding Contemporary Conflicts” pp.65 – 91	Leadership skills and styles; Leadership and public policy making; Governance vs. Good governance: Conditions and benchmarks for good governance.