Politics and Conflict in Deeply Divided Societies
| Module title | Politics and Conflict in Deeply Divided Societies |
|---|---|
| Module code | POL2121 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Henry Jarrett (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Module description
Conflict is often thought of as primarily taking place between states but what about societies that are divided by intra-state conflict? This module provides an introduction to politics in these societies, which may be divided along ethnic, national, religious, linguistic or other lines. Its primary aim is to compare how politics is structured in terms of methods of conflict management, how government operates, the character of political parties, and the role of electoral systems. Contemporary case studies from different geographical regions (Europe, South East Asia, Africa and the Middle East) will be included in order to demonstrate how politics functions in deeply divided societies.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to introduce you to politics in deeply divided societies. It has a particular focus on societies divided by ethnic (and other) conflict and the strategies enforced to manage intra-state conflict. It is a case study based module covering a geographically and politically diverse range of societies. Although academic in focus, upon successful completion you will be well placed to apply knowledge gained whilst studying this module to employment at think tanks, government agencies and international organisations in the area of intra-state conflict.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of divided societies and intra-state conflict in international politics.
- 2. Critically examine and compare different political strategies for managing conflict in divided societies.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Recognise the importance of conflict management in divided societies to global security.
- 4. Display awareness of a range of conceptual frameworks to understand and analyse conflict management and politics in divided societies.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Study independently and manage time and assessment deadlines effectively.
- 6. Demonstrate effective applied writing.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Part 1: Theories of conflict management
Part 2: Case studies
Part 3: Reflections
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 22 | 11 x 2-hour Seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 50 | Private study - reading and preparing for Seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 78 | Preparation for essays, including researching and collating relevant sources; planning the structure and argument; writing up essays |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Plan | 250 words | 1-6 | written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 1,500 words | 1-6 | Written |
| Essay | 50 | 1500 words | 1-6 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (1500 words) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay | Essay (1500 words) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Guelke, A. (2012) Politics in Deeply Divided Societies, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Horowitz, D. L. (1985) Ethnic Groups in Conflict, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Lijphart, A. (1977) Democracy in Plural Societies: A Comparative Exploration, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Wolff, S. and Yakinthou, C. (eds) (2012) Conflict Management in Divided Societies: Theories and Practice, Abingdon and New York, NY: Routledge.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | none |
| Module co-requisites | none |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 28/01/2022 |
| Last revision date | 31/10/2022 |
