BSSn4404 Conflict research

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Jan Holzer, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Miriam Matejova, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Josef Kraus, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Tomáš Zwiefelhofer (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jan Holzer, 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
Mon 10:00–11:40 U33
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! BSS404 Conflict research && !NOW( BSS404 Conflict research )
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 offers an overview of theoretical frameworks for conflict research. Students will be able to conduct a thorough analysis of armed conflicts in various parts of the world, using the appropriate methodological, typological and analytical apparatus, which will be introduced in this course.
Learning outcomes
Students will gain knowledge and understanding of theoretical concepts needed to conduct conflict research as well as skills to apply these concepts in specific case studies.
Syllabus
  • Levels of analysis and systemic causes of war
  • Defining conflict
  • Revolutions and civil wars
  • Conflict and transitions
  • Conflict causes, phases, and dynamics
  • Ideological conflicts
  • Unarmed types of conflict (sanctions, embargos, etc.)
  • Nonstate armed actors
  • Misperception, cognitive biases, and the role of political leaders in conflict
  • Conflict resolution
Literature
    required literature
  • Brooker, P. (2000): Non-Democratic Regimes. Theory, Government and Politics, Houndmills, Basingstoke Hampshire, Macmillan Press, pp. 188-225.
  • Paris, R. (2004): At War’s End: Building Peace after Civil Conflict. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
  • Grugel, J. (2002): Democratization. A Critical Introduction, Palgrave: Macmillan Press, pp. 51-56.
  • Singer, J. D. (1961): The level of analysis problem in international relations. World Politics, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 77-92.
  • Jervis, R. (1968): Hypotheses on misperception. World Politics, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 454-479.
  • Rosato, S. (2003): The flawed logic of democratic peace theory. American Political Science Review, Vol. 97, No. 4, pp. 585-602.
  • Van Evera, S. (1994): Hypotheses on nationalism and war. International Security, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 5-39.
  • Weinstein, J. (2007): Inside Rebellion: The Politics of Insurgent Violence. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
  • Hoffmann, B. (2004): Inside Terrorism. New York: Columbia University Press.
  • Zartman, I. William – Guy Olivier Faure (2005): Escalation and Negotiation in International Conflicts. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
  • Bankowicz, M. (2010): Státní převrat, Brno: Dokořán, pp. 39-64.
  • Walter, B.F. (1997): The critical barrier to civil war settlement. International Organization, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp 335-363.
  • Folch –Escriba, A. (2010): Economic sanctions and the durations of civil conflicts. Journal of Peace Research, 2/2010, pp. 129-141.
  • Byman, D., and K. Pollack (2001): Let us now praise great men: bringing the statesman back in. International Security Vol. 25, No. 4, pp.107-146.
  • Huntington, S. P. (2008): Třetí vlna. Demokratizace na sklonku dvacátého století, Brno: CDK , pp. 203-268.
  • Malia, M. (2009): Lokomotivy dějin. Revoluce a utváření moderního světa, Brno: CDK , pp. 377-416.
  • McFaul, M. (2005): Transition from postcommunism, Journal of Democracy, Vol. 16, No 3, pp. 5-19.
  • Grugel, J. (2002): Democratization. A Critical Introduction, Palgrave: Macmillan Press, pp. 56-64.
  • Wendt, A. (1991): Anarchy is what states make of it: the social construction of power politics. International Organization, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 391-425.
  • Waltz, K. (1988): The origins of war in neorealist theory. Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 615-628.
  • BARTOS, Otomar J. and Paul Ernest WEHR. Using conflict theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, xi, 219. ISBN 0521794463. info
Teaching methods
lectures, discussions, seminar papers
Assessment methods
Term paper, written exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
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