Conflict, Development and Security

Course details

This course aims to develop participants’ critical understanding and analysis of issues related to the interplay of conflict, development and security, with a particular focus on intra state conflicts / civil wars.

Module Objectives

• To examine current understandings of conflict, development and security in the context of participants’ experience of their own society and through comparative investigation of other situations of conflict.
• To critically reflect on theories of conflict and conflict management / conflict transformation.
• To explore in depth the impact of humanitarian assistance on situations of conflict, with a particular focus on complex emergencies.

Module Learning Outcomes

• Participants will be familiar with and able to analyse perspectives related to current debates within the conflict literature, with a particular focus on conflict in ‘developing’ states.
• Participants will be able to critically understand concepts and principles related to conflict management and conflict transformation and their relationship to development activities.
• Participants will have some specialised knowledge of the role of humanitarian assistance and the international community more generally in situations of conflict and insecurity, particularly during so-called complex emergencies.
• Participants will be able to analyse conflict dynamics and trends with reference to specific cases.

Methodology

In order to facilitate a high level of participation and in the light of different experiences of learning and a diversity of learning styles, a wide variety of methods/resources is drawn upon. These include reading, research, essays, discussion, debate, small group work, presentations, handouts, lectures, brainstorming, games, personal reflection and attitude/concept clarification.

Module Content

Key areas to be covered include:

• Human nature, violence and conflict
• Concepts and varieties of conflict
• Conflict as a source of development
• Development and underdevelopment as a root cause of conflict
• Conflict as a source of humanitarian emergencies / the treatment of civilians during civil wars
• Humanitarian and development interventions during conflict situations
• Conflict management and transformation – basic concepts
• Conflict management and transformation – the contribution of development activities

Details of assessment and up to date reading lists for this module will be made available to learners following enrollment.