POL410H1F L0101

Topics in Comparative Politics III

Civil War and Ethnic Violence: Rebuilding States and Societies After War

Themes

This course explores the dynamics of civil conflict and ethnic violence and the challenges and dilemmas of transitioning to a stable post-conflict order. The course will introduce students to a broad knowledge of the concepts, theoretical traditions, and debates in the study of civil war and provide them with the analytical tools for understanding and evaluating different explanations of the causes, trajectories, consequences, and challenges of civil conflicts.
The first half of the course examines the origins, dynamics, and processes of civil war. Since the end of the Cold War, intrastate conflict has become the most common form of political violence. We will explore important theoretical questions, including why people, groups, and states fight. Then we will analyze different approaches to conflict resolution, including intervention, political settlements, power sharing, and reconciliation. The second half of the course examines particular challenges of rebuilding states and societies after war. We will explore the different dilemmas posed in these contexts, including with regard to rebuilding institutions and state capacity, reintegrating ex-combatants, promoting economic growth, and addressing accountability for past crimes.
The course approaches these issues with a focus on the emerging academic literature and central theoretical debates, while grounding the discussions in an empirical base of case studies within which students will identify key themes and issues.

Prerequisites

2.0 credits in POL/ JPA/ JPF/ JPI/ JPR/ JPS/ JRA courses