The student can describe how peace building has been part of international politics and how “war” and “peace” have been understood.

In this module we examine how the understanding of “war” and “peace” has changed, and discuss what is understood by the concept “new wars”. The question of how a need to build sustainable peace has entered into international politics is examined from the 19th century to present. Furthermore, we focus on how human rights have been adapted into international politics and how the international community has interfered with large scale peace building operations in the post-Cold War era. Phenomena like responsibility to protect, humanitarian intervention and liberal peace are explained.

Themes of lecture:
1) Towards perpetual peace: idea and movement
2) Human rights and humanitarian interventions
3) Peace mediation and negotiations
4) Liberal peace & state-building
5) Reconciliation, memory and ontological security

 Seminar: Presentation and paper analyzing a specific peace-building case/operation

Lectures (12 h), articles + seminar (12 h) (students give oral presentation on the basis of their essay)

Modes of study: Examination (including lectures and selected literature) + seminar with essay focusing on one particular peace building case

Please contact the teacher responsible.

Reading list will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Some room in the course for exchange students and other students, please contact the teacher before the course.