Managing Ethnic Conflicts
Course Description
Summary
How should states and the international community respond to protracted and violent conflicts involving ethnic, linguistic, religious or other identity groups? This is/was one of the central challenges of politics and governance in places as diverse as Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Fiji, Iraq, India, Indonesia, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, Nigeria, Rwanda/Burundi, Sri Lanka and The Sudans. This course will examine contending explanations for ethnic conflicts, alternative political and constitutional strategies for managing inter-group conflicts, the challenges and opportunities raised by international mediation in deeply divided societies, and case studies of relatively successful and unsuccessful ethnic conflict management.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will learn to:
Evaluate contending theories of ethnic conflict.
- Assess alternative ethnic conflict management strategies and policies.
- Critique domestic and international responses to contemporary ethnic conflicts.
- Conduct case studies on successful and/or unsuccessful ethnic conflict management.
Prerequisites
Previous coursework in SCT and/or CAPA
Please contact the faculty member : rsuberu@bennington.edu
Cross List
- Advancement of Public Action