The student recognizes one of the main features of the 20th century which is end of the colonial empires. The student understands what is the link between those empires and today’s international post-colonial power structures in the era of globalization.

The history of European colonial empires is a story of conquest, domination, exploitation, war and conflicts. The 20th century was characterized by the collapse of those empires and by the independence of their former colonies with lot of hopes for better future in developing world.
- The last quarter of the 20th century witnessed disillusions of those hopes when the Western world strengthened its domination of globalized economic relations. Today only the so called emerging countries, the BRICS are able to challenge this domination.
- This longue durée evolution is approached from the point of view of peace and conflict research, because the era of colonial empires and their collapse is full of different kind of latent and violent conflicts. The main purpose is to understand the meanings of those conflicts for today. What kind of new conflicts they probably generate as well as what kind of mediation and resolutions might be appropriate in order to strenghten a sustainable peace?

Priority is given for degree students in Master's programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research (1st and 2nd year students in order of enrolment and then students from collaboration University Åbo Academy).
If places are available, students outside the programme are selected in the following order:
- UTA degree students from other programmes
- UTA exchange and visiting students
Prerequisites:
- Master level students who have a very good academic English and good background knowledge in the field of study.