Syllabus offered to NYU, School of Arts and Science Title of course/seminar: Conflict Resolution Dr. Michaela C. Hertkorn E-mail: [email protected]

Course title: Conflict Prevention Instructor: Dr. Michaela C. Hertkorn Class meetings: Tuesdays, 4 – 6 pm E-mail: [email protected] . Methodology and Objectives The first ever ‘Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR)’ published in December 2010 puts conflict prevention on top of the agenda of US foreign policy. This course will look at policy implications of QDDR with regard to how the US may be attempting to rewrite its foreign assistance. Students in this course will explore classic readings in conflict resolution and conflict prevention theory by then applying them to contemporary world politics, global events. We will discuss the tolls that are available for policy and decision makers in the context of conflict resolution and conflict prevention in the field. The course is both reading and research intense. Students will work on individual and group research assignments and write their final paper on a topic of their choosing (based either on a case study or grounded-in-theory study method). Basis for grade: All students: Your learning will be measured by Ø

Written final research paper (case study / grounded-theory study), 20 - 25 pages, 40 %;

Ø

Mid-term paper (approximately 7 – 9 pages) – topic to be provided in class, 30 %;

Ø

Knowledgeable participation in class, including regular participation in in-class discussions and individual / group research on specific issues a case study in conflict prevention, 30 %.

Texts and readings: Text material will be provided on blackboard under course material / lecture material. We will also make use of online material on the sites of think tanks (as indicated in our syllabus below). This course is heavy on individual and group research. Students are expected to do the reading and weekly research assignments listed in the syllabus below.

Required textbook (please obtain a copy of this textbook) I. William Zartman (2007), Peacemaking in International Conflict: Methods and Techniques (United States Institute for Peace: Washington, DC): www.usip.org Recommended books (students don’t have to obtain the following books. Selected chapters will be available on blackboard for this class): 1.

Chester A. Crocker, Fen Osler Hapson, Pamela Aall (2005), Grasping the Nettle. Analyzing Cases of Intractable Conflict (USIP: Washington, DC);

2.

Ibid (2004), Taming Intractable Conflicts. Mediation in the Hardest Cases (USIP: Washington, DC);

3.

David A. Hamburg (2010), Preventing Genocide. Practical Steps Toward Early Detection and Effective Action (Paradigm Publishers);

4.

Bruce W. Jentleson (2000), Opportunities, Opportunities Seized. Preventive Diplomacy in the PostCold War World (Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict: New York);

5.

John W. McDonald (with Noa Zanolli, 2009), The Shifting Grounds of Conflict and Peacebuilding. Stories and Lessons (Lexington Books: New York);

6.

Albrecht Schnabel & David Carment (2004), Conflict Prevention from Rhetoric to Reality, volumes I. and II. (Lexington: New York).

Assignments by class and week:

Date of

Topic

Readings

Introduction

No reading required. Please obtain your required text book.

session Session 1 9/6 (T) Session 2 9/13 Session 3 9/20

session New Developments

Please read: ‘Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review’

in US Foreign

http://www.state.gov/s/dmr/qddr/

Assistance? Earlier Theory in

•

Conflict Resolution and Prevention I.

Louis Kriesberg, ‘The Conflict Resolution Field: Origins, Growth, and Differentiation’, in: Zartman, pages 25 – 61;

Please read: Scott Feil ‘Preventing Genocide. How the Early Use of Force Might have Succeeeded in Rwanda’, April 1998. http://carnegie.org/fileadmin/Media/Publications/PDF/Preventing%20Genoci de.pdf

Session 4 9/27

Earlier Theory in Conflict Resolution and Prevention II.

•

Herbert C. Kelman, ‘Social-Psychological Dimensions of International Conflict’, in: Zartman, pages 61 – 111;

Please read: Douglas E. Lute, ‘Improving National Capacity Responding to Complex Emergencies’, April 1998. http://carnegie.org/fileadmin/Media/Publications/PDF/Improving%20National %20Capacity%20to%20Respond%20to%20Complex%20Emergencies.pdf Session 5 10/4

Earlier Theory in

Please choose ONE of the following reports:

Conflict Resolution

http://carnegie.org/publications/search-publications/

and Prevention III.

•

Andrew J. Goodpaster, ‘When Diplomacy is Not Enough: Managing Multinational Military Intervention’, July 1996;

•

Alexander L. George & Jane E. Holl, ‘The Warning Response Problem & Missed Opportunities in Preventive Diplomacy’, May 1997;

•

Cyrus R. Vance & David A. Hamburg, ‘Pathfinders to Peace: A Report to the UN Secretary-General on the Role of Special Representatives & Personal Envoys’, September 1997.

10/11

Columbus Day

No class

Session 6

Earlier Case Study

Please choose ONE of the following reports:

Material in (Applied)

http://carnegie.org/publications/search-publications/

10/18

Conflict Resolution and Prevention

•

‘A House no Longer Divided. Progress and Prospects for Democratic Peace in South Africa’, July 1997;

•

‘Bridging the Gap. A Future Security Architecture for the Middle East’, March 1997;

•

Research assignment: Please search for an article (journal, magazine, newspaper, online) that discusses the current state of either case study region. Bring to class for in-class discussions.

Session 7 10/25

The tools of conflict resolution and prevention

Please choose one of the following two chapters in Zartman: • Daniel Druckman, ‘Negotiating in the International Context’, pages 111 – 163 OR: Jacob Bercovitch, ‘Mediation in International Conflicts: Theory, Practice, and Developments, pages 163 – 195. (We will discuss both texts in two groups in class); Please choose one of the following book chapters (available on blackboard): • Bruce W. Jentleson, ‘Preventive Diplomacy: A Conceptual and Analytical Framework’, in: Opportunities Missed, Opportunities Seized; • Michael S. Lund, ‘Preventive Diplomacy for Macedonia, 1992 – 1999:

From Containment to Nation Building’, pages 173 – 211. Session 8 11/1

Researching the polity level: US agencies and

Please familiarize yourselves with the following web sites: http://www.state.gov/s/crs/ (S/CRS);

institutions focusing

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/conflict/

on CR & CP

(CMM / USAID); http://www.mcc.gov/ (Millenium Challenge Corp). Research assignment: Please search for a contemporary article discussing the work, projects of either one organization (anywhere in the world). Bring to class for in-class discussions.

Session 9 11/8

Conflict Resolution and Prevention in the Contemporary

Please read: http://www.usip.org/publications/usip-prevention-newsletter-september-2011

World I. Mid-term paper due Session 10 11/15

Conflict Resolution and Prevention in the Contemporary World II.

Please read TWO of the following issue analyses: http://www.usip.org/publicationstools/latest?filter1=284&filter0=**ALL**&filter2=**ALL**&filter3=**ALL**&filter 4=**ALL** • Gordon Leebold, ‘What’s Next for the New Libya’, August 2011; • Colette Rausch, ‘Helping Libya’s New Leaders Move from Euphoria to Reform’, August 2011; • Scott Worden, ‘Dispute Resolution and Durable Peace in Afghanistan’, August 2011; • ‘Getting to ‘Afghan Good Enough’’, August 2011.

Session 11 11/22

Contemporary Challenges in Conflict Resolution and Prevention

• Jane Holl Lute, ‘The Role of Force in Peacemaking’, in Zartman, pages 419 – 465; • Chester Crocker on the State of Peacebuilding, 8/12/2011: http://www.usip.org/publications/chester-crocker-the-state-peacebuildingfield • Research assignment: Please search for an article that discusses contemporary challenges in conflict resolution, stabilization and / or postconflict peacebuilding. Bring to class.

Session 12 11/29

Contemporary

• Aall, Helsing, Tidwell, ‘Addressing Conflict through Education’, in:

Challenges in Conflict Resolution and Prevention

Zartman, pages 327 – 355; •

George F. Ward, Michael Lekson, ‘Dealing wiith Conflict: the Contributions of Training’, in: Zartman, pages 355 – 385;

•

Research assignment: Please search for an article that discusses the role of education, training in conflict resolution. Bring to class.

Session 13 12/6

Institutional

Please choose TWO of the following book chapters (available on

Challenges:

blackboard):

Mainstreaming Conflict Prevention?

• Monika Wohlfeld, ‘The OSCE as a Primary Instrument of Conflict Prevention in Europe’, in: Schnabel & Carment, Conflict Prevention from Rhetoric to Reality (Lexington: 2004), pages 167 – 207; • Fraser Cameron, ‘The European Union and Conflict Prevention’, ibid, pages 207 – 223; Yadira A. Soto, ‘The Role of the Organization of American States in Conflict Prevention’, ibid, pages 223 – 263.

Session 14

Final session

12/13

Final papers due Group presentations

Students will work on a case study in conflict prevention and present their findings in groups. No additional reading.