POL486H1S L0101

Topics in International Politics I

Peacebuilding

Themes

This is an ONLINE Asynchronous Course which offers students the opportunity to rethink Western-oriented methods of inquiry and theories, which in turn allows them to rethink dominant conceptions of knowledge and normativity in peacemaking and peacebuilding as a form of intervention. The course critically analyzes and interrogates various conflict zones and cases, and the different actors and strategies which links peacebuilding to peacemaking in Africa in the broader context of the political economy of peace. It is organized in roughly four sections: Part I critically interrogates the production of “knowledge” and deconstructs the Euro-American-Centric definitions of peace and war. Part II introduces you to the global economic structures of power that impacts our understanding and application of peace. Part III focuses on the main theoretical issues and debates on liberal peacemaking and peacebuilding. By asking ‘how do peacemakers influence peacebuilding processes?’, part IV, you will test the application of theories in three case studies by examining the linkages between, and effectiveness of, peacemaking and peacebuilding processes.

Texts

TBA

Format and Requirements

TBA

Prerequisites

POL208H1 or POL208Y1 or POL209H5 or POLB80H3