Iaff 282 (10) – Introduction to Conflict Resolution (Spring 08)

This course provides students with an introduction to the field of conflict analysis and resolution. It is intended to provide a solid foundation for further inquiry and application. The course will introduce students to the major concepts and issues currently animating the field, explore the main strategies for responding to conflicts, and help them recognize the assumptions upon which these strategies rest. This is not primarily a “how-to” course nor does it delve extensively into the fields of community and neighbor mediation. Instead, this course considers the “upper end” of the conflict spectrum, focusing on inter-state disputes, contemporary civil wars, complex political emergencies and other forms of violent conflict. At the end of the course students should be acquainted with the nature of conflict resolution as a distinct theoretical and applied field of study and have some understanding of current thinking about major approaches to war prevention, mitigation, settlement, and post-war reconstruction projects. It will be useful for anyone with an interest in conflict resolution and management, including professionals in the fields of diplomacy, journalism, development assistance, humanitarian aid or international peacekeeping who wish to develop their knowledge of this important area. The course will connect theory to practice through discussion, research and case study review of real events.

Iaff 288 (13) – Negotiating Skills (Spring 08)

This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the    negotiator’s (diplomat or policy analyst) role in international disputes and to enhance the student’s understanding of negotiation for managing differences between individuals and groups. The students will study the nature of conflict, learn how to handle two and multiparty conflicts, exerting leadership where there is no leadership, and explore the impact of diplomats, facilitators and mediators on the negotiating process. The course will be a blend of theory and skill building focusing on the behavior of groups and individuals in groups to understand the negotiation dynamics.

Iaff 288 (18) – Peace Support Operations (Spring 08)

Iaff  288 (14) – War and Conflict in Africa (Spring 08)

Iaff  288 (29) – Ethnic Conflict and Violence (Spring 08)

Iaff  218 (11) – Political Reconstruction in Conflict Societies (Spring 08)

SIS-510 – Islamic Sources of Conflict (Spring)

Investigates the role of cultural and religious elements in conflicts affecting the Muslim world, and examines Islamic precepts as they relate to the theory and practice of conflict resolution. After reviewing principles and precedents from the Qur’an, the Hadith, the Shari’ah, and traditional Islamic culture, students engage in research projects to analyze conflict and conflict resolution processes both within the Muslim world and between Muslim and non-Muslim ethnic and political groups. Usually offered every spring.

SIS-516 – Peacebuilding in Divided Societies (Fall)

This course explores the various methods and techniques of peacebuilding and conflict resolution that have been applied in conflicts in multiethnic and divided societies. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the primary case studies, but other examples of deep-rooted conflicts are also integrated into the class. Usually offered every fall.

SIS-517 – Gender, Human Rights, and Conflict (Spring)

This seminar examines the gender dimensions of human wrongs associated with violent conflict. Students are encouraged to ask questions about the complexity of human rights problems and consider aspects of human rights problems made invisible to the outside world by silencing or obscuring the victims. Students also explore how each aspect of conflict is gendered. Of primary concern is gendered forms of resistance to and cooperation with agents of war and peace, the role gender plays in the militaries and militarization, the impact of militarization on the lives of men and women in both war and peace time, and recent legal and political attempts to address gender-based violence in human rights. Usually offered every spring. Prerequisite: SIS-322.

SIS-596 (008) – Youth and Conflict (Fall 07)

This course examines the relationship between youth and conflict, starting with an exploration of varying definitions of youth as a biological, cultural, and political category. The class discusses youth and children both as victims of conflict and as perpetrators of violence, as well as youth and nation, the effect of conflict on educational systems, the special concerns of girls, the efforts of international child protection agencies and NGOs, children’s testimonies of violence, and youth-sponsored peace-building activities internationally.

SIS-596 (001) – Environmental Peacemaking (Fall 2007)

Environmental peacemaking is an emerging interdisciplinary field that focuses on identifying ways the environment--natural and human--provides opportunities for building bridges of collaboration between conflicting parties. In this course, students deal with concepts from conflict studies, environmental studies, and international relations, and develop an understanding of how these areas have merged to form a new theoretical framework informing the emerging environmental peacemaking paradigm. Students are introduced to case studies relating to this new field and gain hands-on experience designing and implementing an environmental peacemaking project.

SIS-606 – Culture and Peace and Conflict Resolution: Alternatives to Violence (Spring)

The complex role of culture in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Historically-grounded conceptualizations of culture are reviewed in terms of their international relations application. The course identifies core patterns of cultural difference in values and beliefs, interpretive frames, and behaviors that impact on peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts. Also examines specific conflict intervention approaches in terms of their cross-cultural applicability. Usually offered every spring.

SIS -607 – Peace Paradigms (Spring)

The history and development of approaches to peace, with particular emphasis upon the following: peace through coercive power, peace through nonviolence, peace through world order, and peace through personal and community transformation. Usually offered every spring.

SIS-609 – Conflict Analysis and Resolution: Theory and Practice (Fall)

Explores conflict resolution as a field of inquiry and research; perspectives, theories, and assumptions underlying conflict analysis and conflict resolution; contending approaches to conflict resolution training and practice. A case analysis approach is used to examine the role of contemporary issues in conflict situations. Usually offered every fall. Prerequisite: SIS-607 and SIS-610 (may be taken concurrently).

SIS-610 – Theory of Conflict, Violence and War (Spring)

Survey of the theoretical and empirical literature on the causes and conditions of conflict, particularly conflict which is expressed violently at all levels. Includes analyzing violence at the individual level, defining violence (physical, economic, social, cultural, systematic) and why societies support violence. Usually offered every spring.

SIS-611 – International Negotiation (Fall and Spring)

Survey of the theoretical literature on the communicative dimensions of negotiating international conflicts and an examination of conflict settings such as hostage/terrorist situations, diplomatic crises, and protracted social conflicts. Also examines a communication-based approach that focuses on “face” needs, interest/demands, and relationships among the contending parties. The role of emotion is highlighted and specific communication skills central to effective negotiation and mediation of intense conflicts are practiced. Usually offered every term.

SIS-612 – Research Seminar in Peace and Conflict Resolution (Spring)

Integrative seminar to test theories and assumptions raised in contemporary venues of peace and conflict resolution research. Seminar focuses on peace and conflict resolution research as distinct from research into war and violent conflict. Theoretical and methodological approaches to peace and conflict resolution studies are examined in detail. Usually offered every spring.

SIS-613 – Reconciliation and Justice (Fall)

This course exposes students to the complex and multi-dimensional aspects of the relationship between reconciliation and justice in a post-conflict context. It also develops a deeper understanding of the challenges involved in applying and designing a reconciliation project in a development context. The course addresses the tension between the request for reconciliation, coexistence, and peace and the demand for justice. Usually offered every fall.

SIS-617 – Applied Conflict Resolution (Fall and Spring)

Topics vary by section, may be repeated for credit with different topic. Course addresses key issues in North American studies. Meets with SIS-318. Usually offered every term.

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

CONF 501 – Introduction to Conflict Analysis and Resolution Introduces field of conflict analysis and resolution. Examines definitions of conflict and diverse views of its “resolution.” Explores thinking about human behavior, and social systems as they relate to origins of conflict and role of conflict in violent and peaceful social change. Considers appropriate responses to conflict at interpersonal, intergroup, industrial, communal, and international levels.

CONF 502 – Intensive Introduction to Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Introduces field of conflict analysis and resolution and its broad range of approaches to analyzing and resolving conflict, including consideration of interpersonal, community, and large-scale intergroup conflict.

CONF 601 – Theories of Conflict and Conflict Resolution

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Examines major social scientific theories of conflict. Emphasizes need for theories to inform ability to resolve conflict. Weaves together ideas from conventional disciplines with new approaches, especially to causes of deep-rooted conflict. Focuses on analysis as a tool.

CONF 610 – Philosophies and Methods of Conflict Research

Introduces research design, including use of theory to define problem; exploring research approaches; gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data. Latter includes field observation; field experiments; lab experiments (simulations); surveys and sampling techniques; and archival, documentary, and literature resources. Quantitative techniques include theories of measurement (numerical and ordinal scales); distributions; and analysis techniques (chi-square, correlating, factor analysis). Briefly introduces philosophies, limits of science.

CONF 611 – MS Research II

Guides students through design, execution, interpretation, analysis, presentation, and evaluation of field research in conflict, resolution.

CONF 642 – Integration of Theory and Practice

Taken in last semester of master student course work. Assists in developing students' own generic theory of conflict by reviewing, integrating prior course work. Students expected to demonstrate holistic comprehension by writing major essay of publishable quality about causes, events, and resolution of conflict of their own choosing.

CONF 650 – Conflict Analysis and Resolution Advanced Skills

Prerequisite or corequisite: CONF 501 or 502. Covers innovative practices such as narrative mediation, conflict coaching, and conflict conferencing; and innovative technologies such as positive connotation, appreciative inquiry, circular questions, and stakeholder mapping.

CONF 651 – Conflict Analysis and Resolution for Collaborative Leadership in Community Planning

Prerequisite or corequisite: CONF 501 or 502. Covers designing collaborative processes to work with diverse stakeholders to build meaningful and lasting shared agreements. Considers applications in land use, development, or other community planning contexts.

CONF 652 – Conflict Analysis and Resolution for Prevention, Reconstruction and Stabilization Contexts

Prerequisite or corequisite: CONF 501 or 502. Considers conflict analysis and resolution approaches to designing, implementing, and evaluating holistic cross-sectoral, conflict-sensitive initiatives in areas of potential violence and post-conflict reconstruction and stabilization contexts.

CONF 653 – World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution

Prerequisite or corequisite: CONF 501 or502. Analyzes ways world religions play role in conflict, war, diplomacy, peace making and conflict resolution.

CONF 656 – Integrating Complementary Approaches in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Prerequisite or corequisite: CONF 501 or502. Considers designs and methods for conflict analysis and resolution that integrate multiple approaches, stakeholders, and methods. Applies to social conflicts in local and international contexts.

CONF 657 – Facilitation Skills

Prerequisite or corequisite: CONF 501 or 502. Covers range of skills in group facilitation processes, with emphasis on conflict analysis and resolution approaches to improve group communication. Includes skill-building exercises.

CONF 658 – Diversity in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Prerequisite or corequisite: CONF 501 or 502. Covers elements of cultural diversity, understanding and awareness; and creative ways of approaching issues of diversity, identity, worldviews, and territory. Considers individuals, organizations, communities and nations.

CONF 659 – Leadership in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Prerequisite or corequisite: CONF 501 or 502. Covers roles and styles of leadership in interpersonal, organizational, community, group, and international conflicts. Considers cultural roles of leaders as insider- partials, negotiators, facilitators, and mediators.

CONF 660 – Conflict Assessment and Program Evaluation

Prerequisite or corequisite: CONF 501 or 502. Covers assessment methods appropriate to conflict contexts, and related evaluation approaches and techniques for use in areas of peace building, community processes, or interpersonal conflict.

CONF 690 – Practicum in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

In-depth field study of ongoing conflict situations, and design and delivery of intervention processes to manage or resolve conflicts.

CONF 695 – Selected Topics

Topics vary; they are announced each academic year.

CONF 701 - Theories of Social Harmony

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801; CONF 601 recommended but not required. Part of series of theory courses; companion to CONF 601. Explores theories that define and explain social harmony and cooperation. Examines social institutions that manage and mediate conflict at all levels, and provides foundation for subsequent courses in peace building, peace making, multilateral organizations, social change, and development.

CONF 702 - Peace Studies

Traces evolution of peace studies since World War II, with particular attention to changing definitions of peace, conflict, and violence, and implications for conflict analysis and resolution. Links peace keeping, peace building, and peace making in integrative framework.

CONF 703 - Conceptions of Practice

Prerequisites: CONF 501, 601, 713. Provides framework for integrating theory and practice in conflict resolution. Reviews types of practice and theories of intervention and change, discusses analytic process of assessment and diagnosis before intervention. Considers how research can be incorporated into practice, and how thoughtful practice generates research questions. Includes methods of program evaluation and action research. Students encouraged to identify, develop their own theories.

CONF 708 – Identity and Conflict

Explores complex interrelations of social identity and postmodern conflicts in society. Emphasizes the role of identity in processes of conflict resolution and transformation. Critical rethinking of ethnic, national, and religious identities as both generators and outcomes of conflict are an important part of the course. Extends knowledge on structure and dynamics of identity-based conflicts and develops a framework for their resolution. Course includes lectures, simulations, and case studies.

CONF 709 - War, Violence, and Conflict Resolution

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Considers various theories, causes, and conditions of violence, and applies them to variety of cases: family abuse, religious and ethnic violence, terrorism, revolution, and warfare. Applies insights from study of initiation, escalation, management, resolution, and prevention of violence to theories about resolving deep-rooted conflicts.

CONF 713 - Laboratory and Simulation I: Interpersonal and Intergroup Conflict

Prerequisite or corequisite for all CONF majors: CONF 501 or 801. Introductory skill-building course integrating conflict theory and practice using reflective practitioner model. Students learn necessary skills for third-party facilitation and mediation including active listening, empathy, paraphrasing, reframing, and negotiation; and analytical skills of problem solving and creation of transformational processes. Cases for practice focus on interpersonal and intergroup conflict.

CONF 714 - Laboratory and Simulation II: Organizational and Community Conflict

Prerequisites: CONF 501 or 801 and 713. Moves from conflicts that are simply described to those with multilevel components, such as community and organizational conflicts. Expands skills acquired in 713 by adding recording chronology; identifying roles played by various participants; observing turning points in process; and precisely stating agreed upon solution.

CONF 715 - Laboratory and Simulation III: International and Intercommunal Conflict

Prerequisites: CONF 501, 713, and 714; or permission of instructor. Continues study of resolution processes as applied to highly complex systems, especially where one party denies legitimacy of existing political authority. Considers third-party options for intervention in revolutionary and international conflicts, building communication and trust among parties, and implementing agreements.

CONF 720 - Ethnic and Cultural Factors in Conflict Resolution

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Examines the role culture plays in genesis, structuring, and resolution of processes of conflict within and between groups. Special attention to ethnicity and other subcultural markers of identity in complex social systems as generators and outcomes of conflict. Explores relevance of variables to success or failure of conflict resolution.

CONF 721/SOCI 523 - Conflict and Race

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Addresses historic analyses of racial and ethnic identity conflicts and their resolution.

CONF 722 - Conflict and Religion

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Explores role of organized religions in conflict, war, peace making, and conflict resolution.

CONF 723 - Conflict and Gender

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Examines constructs of gender and conflict as they relate to critical analysis of theory and practice. Reviews feminist theories for contributions to social and conflict theories. Uses narratives to explore how gender, power dynamics interact in conflict.

CONF 724 - Conflict and “-Isms”

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. “Them” and “Us”: Deals with identification and analysis of interrelationships and similarities among various ways human beings bifurcate themselves based on national, ethnic, religious, gender, and other criteria. Explores role of divisions in development and intractability of identity-based conflicts, and implications for conflict analysis and resolution. Examples include nationalism, racism, sexism, ageism, classism.

CONF 725 - Conflict and Spirituality

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Explores role of spirituality in naming, framing, and unwinding of conflict. Considers roles of apology, reconciliation, and forgiveness as they relate to the deconstruction of enemy images in protracted communal and interpersonal conflicts. Examines relational empathy, and ways of cultivating connection across perceived deep differences.

CONF 727 - Cross-Cultural Analysis of Conflict

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Introduces techniques of participant observation and anthropological research. Provides insights into cross-cultural fieldwork experience, an important skill to facilitate working with groups outside own “worldview.” Highly recommended for students interested in understanding diverse groups and gaining insights into world views and values held by different people.

CONF 728 - Human Rights Theory and Practice in Comparative Perspective Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801, or permission of instructor. Introduces major controversies and debates surrounding use of human rights theory and practice cross-culturally. After basic study of human rights philosophy, uses case studies from around the world to examine problems and potential of human rights in today’s globalized world.

CONF 729 - Approaches to Violence

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801, or permission of instructor. Explores violence from variety of intellectual and political perspectives. Readings are wide-ranging and interdisciplinary, addressing levels of analysis from biological to nation-state and transnational processes.

CONF 730 - Structural Sources of Conflict

Prerequisites: CONF 501 or 801, and 601 for MS; or 802 for PhD. Examines how structures and institutions affect behavior and give rise to conflictual relationships at all social levels, from interpersonal to the international. Explores role of conflict resolution as political process providing opportunities for nonviolent system change.

CONF 731 - Conflict in Organizations

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Explores intersection and dynamics of organizational behavior and dimensions of conflict. Involves theoretical perspectives and cases examining conflict analysis and resolution. Practices strategies for prevention and intervention. Field research in greater metropolitan area integrates course content.

CONF 732 - Conflict in Development

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Economic and social development cause trauma as new ideas conflict with old ones. When development is generated or directed by forces outside a culture, conflict takes on deep-rooted character. Course explores how conflict analysis and resolution approaches can be applied to conflicts of development and change.

CONF 733 - Law and Jurisprudence in Conflict Resolution

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Contrasts legal processes and institutions with alternative approaches to dispute resolution. Defines and distinguishes among law, “alternative dispute resolution,” and problem-solving analysis as methods for resolving rather than controlling conflict. Asks to what extent legal procedures are truly applicable to resolving deep-rooted conflict.

CONF 735 - Global Context of Conflict

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Advances skills and knowledge base in critical analysis and creative problem-solving. Examines root causes of conflict in global context in terms of gender inequality, cultural differences, unequal North and South relations, militarism, economic oppression, genocide, maldevelopment, religious and ethnic struggles, and environmental scarcity. Students develop their own conceptual tool boxes to analyze conflicts in different parts of the world.

CONF 736 - Globalization and International Conflict

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801, or permission of instructor. Explores economic, political, social, and cultural meanings of globalization; how they affect conflict processes at international level; and when and under what conditions globalization promotes cooperation or conflict.

CONF 738 – Researching Conflict in Health Systems

Capstone seminar; final course in graduate certificate program in conflict resolution for health professionals. Involves conducting research and analyzing specific conflict situation in depth. Builds on theory, research, and practice learned in previous courses for this certificate.

CONF 739 - Collective Action, Social Movements, and Globalization

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801, or permission of instructor. Explores how people translate underlying grievances into collective action. Examines how groups organize, frame, and develop strategies and tactics to pursue agendas, and how processes of globalization have influenced social movement dynamics.

CONF 740 - Conflict Roles, Resources, and Ethics

Prerequisites: CONF 501 or 801, 713. Analyzes and critiques nature and roles in conflicts. Uses theoretical perspectives, case histories to understand how settings affect roles. Includes ethical assessment of interventions in variety of conflict settings.

CONF 741 - Negotiations

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801, or permission of instructor. Uses negotiating experiences to construct framework for thinking about and analyzing negotiation processes. Framework then used to organize review of research literature on rhythms, patterns of negotiation, and to analyze actual cases. Interweaves exercises, class projects with state-of-the-art concepts and findings.

CONF 743 - Dynamics of Conflict Termination

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801, or permission of instructor. Studies nature of peace process in terminating international, transnational, and civil conflicts. Includes analysis of parties’ decision-making procedures during processes of de-escalation, prebargaining, and negotiation. Examines impact of various third-party roles (mediator, conciliator, facilitator) on overall process, including implementing and monitoring agreements. Takes as case studies efforts to terminate conflicts including Iran-Iraq war, Cyprus dispute, and the Eritrean conflict.

CONF 745 - Leadership Roles in Conflict and Conflict Resolution

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801, or permission of instructor. Leadership responses to conflict are affected by several variables, including race, ethnicity, and gender. Explores roles of leadership decision-making styles as agents of conflict across range of conflict scenarios at interpersonal, community, organizational, and international levels.

CONF 746 - Peace Building  

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Building on initiatives of United Nations and other multilateral organizations, explores dynamics of post- conflict peace building. Prepares students of conflict resolution to play innovative roles in reconstruction of civil societies.

CONF 747 – Reconciliation

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801. Explores processes of acknowledgment, reconciliation, forgiveness, and restitution. Reviews literature, case studies, and other research to assess applicability and impact of these efforts.

CONF 748 - Comparative Peace Processes

Prerequisites: CONF 501 or 801, and 601 or 803; or permission of instructor. Compares case studies drawn from actual peace processes, both successful and unsuccessful, to illuminate principles and complexities.

CONF 749 - World Religions, Violence, and Conflict Resolution

Prerequisite: CONF 501 or 801, or permission of instructor. Examines how world religions play role in conflict and conflict resolution. Investigates how values, world view, and hermeneutics influence strategies for successful conflict interventions.

CONF 750 – Evaluation of Conflict Resolution Initiatives

Examination of models and methodologies for evaluation of conflict resolution initiatives. Evaluation approaches taught will include action evaluation, program evaluation, formative evaluation, and summative evaluation. Students will be expected to complete an evaluation design for an actual conflict resolution-related initiative as the major course requirement and participate in the class evaluation project.

MSFS 528 – Nonviolent Conflict: Between Soft and Hard Power (Fall)

This seminar proposes an in-depth study of nonviolent conflict, which is a method of popular struggle used by groups around the world to fight for basic rights and political change using disruptive - albeit nonviolent - tactics and strategies. The course will begin with a discussion of the main theories underlying nonviolent conflict, including theories of power, contention, and strategy. We will employ analytical insights from various academic disciplines (security and strategic studies, sociology, philosophy, international relations, conflict studies) to analyze the dynamics underlying civilian-led struggles. Although there is nothing inherently incompatible with spiritual/pacifist approaches to nonviolence, this course will focus on the practical application of nonviolent methods and strategies, including its successes and failures.

MSFS 624 – Statecraft and Negotiation

This is a class that will look at American foreign policy through a particular lens, the lens of statecraft. Statecraft is much more than only how to conduct the business of foreign policy. Rather it is involves the orchestration of all the instruments of power and influence to protect against threats and to promote broad national interests.
Clearly, statecraft also must involve developing strategy, defining objectives and purposes, identifying the means available for pursuing that strategy, and then knowing how best to employ those means. If there is one instrument or policy tool that is central to nearly all forms of statecraft, it is negotiations. This course will, thus, take a closer look at the American approach to negotiations and how best to pursue them. It will also explore mediation as a policy tool both with regard to helping to settle or defuse local and sectarian conflicts as well as with regard to promoting a more favorable image of the US internationally.
To set a context for understanding statecraft and how it can best be employed, the initial part of the course will focus on our ethos and self image. Foreign policy, its purposes, our role in the world and how we exercise it must all be related in some fashion to how we see ourselves and what has inherent credibility with the American public. Readings from Henry Kissinger's book, Diplomacy, and from my forthcoming book on statecraft will form the basis of the discussion for the first part of the course.
The next section of the course will be geared toward distilling what are the essential parts of statecraft by looking at several historical and contemporary cases in which different administrations identified important American interests and employed a variety of policy tools to try to achieve them. US policy in advance of the Suez war in 1956 and the June 1967 wars, German unification in NATO in 1990/91, the Bosnia war and settlement 1993-95, and the run-up to the Iraq war of 2003 and its aftermath will be discussed. Excerpts from Kissinger's Diplomacy and Michael Oren's book, Six Days of War, will be used for the first two cases; for the case on German unification, Philip Zelikow and Condoleezza Rice’s book German Unified and Europe Transformed; for the Bosnia case, excerpts from Derek Chollet’s book, The Road to the Dayton Accords; and for the Iraq war, excerpts from George Packer’s book, The Assassin’s Gate..
After assessing what appears to make for effective statecraft, we will in the third part of the course take a closer look from a practitioner's standpoint of policy instruments such as negotiations and mediation. Here we will use several chapters from the Chester Crocker et al volume, Turbulent Peace, as well as four chapters from my forthcoming book on statecraft. Because I will want to delve into the essence of negotiation and mediation in some depth, we will also draw on several specific negotiations from my experience in the Middle East that are outlined in my book the Missing Peace.
The concluding part of the course will focus on how to use statecraft in a prospective way. We will discuss issues that are confronting the US today and explore how an effective approach rooted in statecraft would shape US choices, our policy, and the tools used to carry it out.

MSFS 644 – War to Peace Transition (Fall)

How the United States and the rest of the international community consolidate peace and security after violent conflict is especially important to understand in an era of preventative war, terrorism and aggressive peacemaking. In this course, students will examine what has come to be known as “winning the peace” and you will become familiar with the character of modern war, the nature of post-war environments, the elements of post-conflict transitions and the primary agents of “nation-building”. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to view transitions from war to peace through the perspectives of those who practice post-conflict work, both in Washington and in the field. Students will be asked to interview many of these practitioners as part of your work and will be invited to share an informal dinner with several experienced practitioners later in the course. Students will also read many of the documents and reports such practitioners produce. This course will require students to be an imaginative, diligent and active participants. Each student in this course will work individually and as a member of a team as course material is considered.