Overview
An advanced introduction to the study of the empirically based, theoretical debates on the micro and macro causes of violence and armed conflict, and the potential and challenges of peacebuilding.
Theories of Peace and Conflict (PEAC 501) is one of the core papers in the Masters of Peace and Conflict Studies. It aims to provide a postgraduate-level introduction to theoretical frameworks and approaches employed within the field of Peace and Conflict Studies and other related theoretical frameworks as they relate to violent conflict within, between, and across states. The course explores theoretical explanations for peace and sources of armed conflict, and provides a critical analysis of conflict resolution, post-conflict peacebuilding, and indigenous approaches to peace, conflict, and peacebuilding. The cases reviewed in this paper will include the examples in Aotearoa, the Pacific Islands, and beyond.
About this paper
| Paper title | Theories of Peace and Conflict |
|---|---|
| Subject | Peace and Conflict Studies |
| EFTS | 0.25 |
| Points | 30 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2025 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- PEAC 401
- Limited to
- MPCS
- Eligibility
- Suitable for graduates of all disciplines interested in the theoretical framework of peace and conflict studies and the key debates taking place in this discipline.
- Contact
- peaceandconflict@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View more information on the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies' website
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
The course will include, among others, discussion of the following topics:
- Key concepts: Peace, Justice, Violence
- Approaches to Conflict Analysis
- Colonialism, Imperialism, Capitalism
- Critical Race Theory and Islamophobia
- Identity and Genocide
- The Climate Crisis
- International Organisation, Humanitarian Intervention and Law
- Diplomacy, Dialogue, and Mediation
- Critical Approaches to Peacebuilding
- Feminist Peace
- Decolonial and indigenous Peace
- Pacifist Peace
- Teaching Arrangements
- Each 3-hour seminar is a combination of lecture, discussion and reflection.
- Textbooks
- There is no core textbook for this paper. A range of readings will be drawn upon in class. Students are expected to have read the 3-5 set readings for each week and are encouraged to also read from the recommended readings list. Students are also encouraged to relate the week's readings to current events. Readings for essays and assignments will be expected to go beyond the reading lists provided here. Students should be prepared to explain and critically analyse the key arguments of readings in the class.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will develop knowledge and skills on:
- The main theories and approaches in the field of peace and conflict research
- The key lines of debate on the causes and resolution of conflict and contemporary peacemaking and peacebuilding practice
- Innovative and/or alternative models of conflict resolution and peacebuilding
- The key elements of research methodology
- Argumentation, analytical, writing, collaboration and presentational skills
- Making theoretically informed and empirically based arguments and relating theoretical models to contemporary issues of peace and conflict