SOC1001 Conflict and Peace

Contents

• Staffing
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

SYNOPSIS

This is the foundation course for the peace studies major. It establishes the parameters of the field of Peace Studies and begins by introducing students to the concepts of negative peace - the absence of war and civil strife - and positive peace which is founded upon a just society and global community. It will explore these concepts from the global to the personal and develop student skills in negotiation, non-violent resistance, empathy and conflict resolution. Peace studies aims to introduce students to non-violent social structures and how they transform traditional hierarchical structures, and to the importance of human rights and eco-sustainability in building a peaceful society. This course will introduce students to key concepts in peace studies from an international, national, local and personal perspective.

OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

1.

recognize, define, and use the essential terminology of peace and conflict studies;

2.

analyse the causes of conflict;

3.

illustrate a deep understanding of nonviolence in theory and practice through selected case studies;

4.

make judgments about ways to achieve peaceful outcomes through negotiation, compromise or conflict resolution techniques;

5.

display an understanding of empathy with others;

6.

critically analyse rhetoric;

7.

appreciate the need for peace to incorporate both positive and negative forms.

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Jeong, Ho-Won 2000, Peace and conflict studies: an introduction, Ashgate, Aldershot.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Students can also consult recent editions of the following journals: Journal of Peace Research, Peace Studies, Social Alternatives, Global Change, Peace and Security (formerly Interdisciplinary Peace Research, then Pacifica Review).

Barash, DP (ed.) 2000, Approach to peace: a reader in peace studies, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Barash, DP & Webel, CP 2002, Peace and conflict studies, Sage, Thousand Oaks.
(This is commonly used as a textbook for university courses in Peace Studies, but it is expensive. If you are doing the Peace Studies major, however, you may like to consider buying a copy.)

Clements, Kevin & Ward, Robin (eds) 1994, Building international community: cooperating for peace case studies, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

Evangelista, Matthew (ed.) 2005, Peace studies, Routledge, London.

Galtung, J & Jacobsen, CG 2002, Searching for peace: the road to TRANSCEND, Pluto Press, London.
(Available as an eBook through the library catalogue.)

Keating, Tom & Knight, W Andy (eds) 2004, Building sustainable peace, United Nations University Press, New York.

Kurlansky, Mark 2006, Non-violence: the history of a dangerous idea, Jonathan Cape, London.

Randle, Michael (ed.) 2002, Challenge to nonviolence, Bradford University Press, Bradford.

Rees, Stuart 2003, Passion for peace: exercising peace creatively, UNSW Press, Sydney.

Schirch, Lisa 2005, Ritual and symbol in peacebuilding, Kumarian Press, Bloomfield, CT.
(Available as an eBook through the library catalogue.)

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Students will contribute to online discussions commencing in Week 1 and will be assessed on their contribution at the end of modules 1, 4 and 5. This assessment is aligned with Objectives 1, 4, 5 and 6.

2.

Students will contribute to online discussions commencing in Week 1 and will be assessed on their contribution at the end of modules 1, 4 and 5. This assessment is aligned with Objectives 1, 4, 5 and 6.

3.

Students will contribute to online discussions commencing in Week 1 and will be assessed on their contribution at the end of modules 1, 4 and 5. This assessment is aligned with Objectives 1, 4, 5 and 6.

4.

This assessment is aligned with Objectives 1, 3, 5 and 6.

5.

Exam dates will be advised when the timetable has been finalised. This assessment is aligned with Objectives 1, 2 and 7.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the student's responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. For this course, normal class attendance consists of one 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour tutorial per week.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To successfully complete an individual assessment item, a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. This statement must be read in conjunction with Statement 4 below.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without extenuating circumstances and without prior approval, then a penalty of a maximum of 5% of the assigned mark may apply for each working day late, up to a maximum of 10 working days, at which time a mark of zero can be recorded for that assignment.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade, a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   The exam for this course is a RESTRICTED examination, and the only materials that candidates may use are writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination.) Students whose first language is not English may take an appropriate unmarked non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary) into the examination. Dictionaries with any handwritten notes will not be permitted. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Any deferred or supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 11 Dec 2009.