BSSn4451 Conceptualisations of Conflict and Terrorism

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Lucie Konečná, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lucie Konečná, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Security and Strategic Studies – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 14:00–15:40 U43
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
BSSn4451/01: No timetable has been entered into IS.
BSSn4451/02: No timetable has been entered into IS.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course focuses on several major themes in the study of international terrorism with particular attention given to different strategic and tactical approaches to this form of political violence. It is organised in a seminar format and requires that students read assigned materials prior to each class and make occasional oral presentations to facilitate discussion.
Learning outcomes
The course is designed to help students to:
✓ Develop a knowledge and understanding what terrorism is;
✓ Gain an understanding of the diverse aims, motivations and justifications of contemporary terrorist movements;
✓ Differentiate between various forms of modern terrorism;
✓ Gain the ability to present and critique competing scholarly arguments as well as engage with the academic and non-academic literature on political terrorism;
✓ Pursue the connections between the general and the specific through the production of substantial, analytical study informed by familiarity with the appropriate methodologies;
✓ Formulating lucid, precise and concise explanations and assessments of international processes in both written and oral presentations;
✓ Promote critical engagement with the security studies literature and enable you to display this engagement by developing an ability to present, substantiate and defend complex arguments.
Transferable skills gained/developed: identifying, locating, and organising relevant source materials, self-management, problem solving, teamwork and communication, analytical thinking.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductory lesson 2. Conceptualization of conflict – definition, division, causes, dynamics and specific phenomena such as the spillover effect, frozen conflict and conflict traps 3. Actors of the conflict with a focus on non-state armed actors 4. Conflict resolution and negotiation strategies 5. Conflict resolution in practice – group participation 6. Conflict resolution in practice – group participation II 7. Conceptualization of terrorism - basic division, definition, causes and characteristics 8. Basic forms of terrorism, trends of modern terrorism 9. Maritime terrorism, female terrorism 10. Case Study of Boko Haram, Lords Resistance Army and Ogaden National Liberation Front, Rapid Support Froces 11.-13. Student presentation
Literature
  • Schmid, Alex P. (2020): Handbook of Terrorism: Prevention and Preparedness, s. 13-49.
  • Text nahraný v IS, Lewis, Dustin A. (2018): Civilian Protection in Partnered Conflicts, s. 1-16.
  • Smolík, Josef a Tomáš Šmíd. (2010): Vybrané bezpečnostní hrozby a rizika 21. století, s. 21-43.
  • Ezrow, Natasha. Global Politics and Violent Non-state Actors. 2017. ISBN 9781473960497
  • Netczuk-Gwoździewicz, Marzena a Bodziany, Marek. (2019): Terrorist Activity of Women – an Outline of the Problem, s. 58-76.
  • Dawson, Maurice et. al (2017): Developing Next Generation Countermeasures for Homeland Security Threat Prevention, s. 1-17
  • Šmíd, T. (2010): Vybrané konflikty o zdroje a suroviny. Brno: MPÚ, s. 17 – 46.
  • Maiangwa, Ufo Okeke (2012): Boko Haram Terrorism in Nigeria: Causal Factors and Central Problematic, s. 91-118.
  • Schneckener, Ulrich. (2009). Spoilers or Governance Actors? Engaging Armed Non-State Groups in Areas of Limited Statehood. s. 3-26.
  • MAREŠ, Miroslav. Terorismus v ČR. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum strategických studií, 2005, 476 s. ISBN 8090333389. info
Teaching methods
Students will be required to do the required readings, to attend class sessions, and to write a regular journal accounting for terrorism-related events in world politics. Individual research is going to be presented both in writing and verbally during classes. Group activities are included in this course.
Assessment methods
Each student prepares a term paper describing a selected non-state armed actor. The choice of actor is up to the students, but should be discussed with the teacher. As part of the seminar work, a theoretical framework describing the characteristics of non-state armed actors will be used and applied, on the basis of which the selected actor will be categorized. The theoretical framework for the seminar work is based on the mandatory and recommended literature for lecture No. 3 – Characteristics of non-state armed actors. The seminar paper itself should be 10-15 standard pages long and must be processed by midnight on December 13 via the submission office at  IS. Late submission means failing the course. A student can receive 0-20 points for a seminar paper. The evaluation will be broken down in the notebook. The student will receive additional points for the presentation of his seminar work, where he presents the selected non-state actor, describes all the characteristic features based on the theoretical framework and finally categorizes the actor. The presentation itself should last 15-20 minutes and will take place in the last three hours of the course. Assignment of students to individual dates will take place at the beginning of the second lecture on September 27, 2023. The presentation of the seminar work will be evaluated 0-10 points. On October 18, 2023, there will be a seminar class dealing with conflict resolution in practice. Participation in the seminar is mandatory, students will receive 10 points for the activity at the seminar. The final exam will take the form of a written test, which will absorb the assigned literature and the lectured material. It will be a closed test, consisting of ten questions, for which there will always be a choice of several answers, of which 0-3 may be correct. A total of 20 points can be obtained from the final exam. The total possible point gain from the course is 60 points, i.e. a combination of 20 points for the final exam, 20 points from the seminar work, 10 points for the presentation and 10 points for the activity at the seminar, which will take place on 18 October 2022 and will deal with conflict resolution in  practice. A minimum of 36 points is required to pass the course. Assessment and marking: And 60 – 56 points B 55 – 51 points C 50 – 46 points D 45 – 41 points E 40 – 36 points F 35 and below
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
Readings: There is no basic textbook required for this course. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary to read all the assigned specific readings (articles or book chapters) for each class. All reading material will be made available for the students beforehand to allow them time to prepare accordingly.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
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