MVZ404 Theories of Conflict, War and Peace in IR

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Mgr. Adriana Ilavská, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites
! MVZn4006 Modern geopolitics && !NOW( MVZn4006 Modern geopolitics )
English language skills B2 and better.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course deals with theory of conflict and theory of war and peace. Students will learn to interpret the general theory of conflict and the issue of armed conflicts in international relations and their prevention, whereas the emphasis will be placed on issues of war and peace in the theory of international relations. At the end of the course, students will be able to analyze war in all its aspects; to outline main theories dealing with armed conflicts, war and peace; to generate the typology of war conflicts; to reflect war and peace in international law; to characterize regulation methods of war conflicts, and to assess problems associated with the conduct of humanitarian interventions.
The overall aims of the course are to understand the theory used in the research of peace and war, to improve the ability of students to apply this theory in research, and to define the main differences between the different theoretical schools.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction into the issue – assignment of the “position paper” topics and topics of presentations, introduction of the anticipated parameters of the analytical studies and introduction of the special literature. Conflicts in international relations and their research. 2. The basic terms (conflict, war, peace, etc.). 3. Main vission of the contemporary world. 4. Biological and psychological theories of war. 5. Marxist theories of war. 6. Liberal theories of war. 7. RAM model, OPM model, BPM model and stimulus-response theory and war. 8. System theories – realism, neorealism and cyclical theories. 9. Just War and Responsibility to protect – position paper. 10.Conflict management. 11. Post-conflict reconstruction. 12. Some aspects of conflict resolution from the field - Afghanistan. 13. Final discussion.
Literature
    required literature
  • Kříž, Z. The never ending IR Story: theories dealing with the causes of war. In Kříž, Z. – Urbanovská, J. (ed.) 2014. Examining Armed Conflicts: Theoretical Reflections on Selected Aspects. Brno: Masarykova univerzita,
  • TALEB, Nassim. Černá labuť : následky vysoce nepravděpodobných událostí. Translated by Jan Hořínek. Vyd. 1. Praha: Paseka, 2011, 478 s. ISBN 9788074321283. info
  • Conflict after the Cold War : arguments on causes of war and peace. Edited by Richard K. Betts. 3rd ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008, xi, 654. ISBN 0205583520. URL info
  • WALLENSTEEN, Peter. Understanding conflict resolution : war, peace and the global system. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications, 2007, iv, 311. ISBN 9781412928595. URL info
  • War and peace in an age of terrorism : a reader. Edited by William M. Evan. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, 2006, xix, 407. ISBN 0205428487. info
  • GAT, Azar. War in human civilization. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006, xv, 822. ISBN 9780199236633. info
  • WAISOVÁ, Šárka. Řešení konfliktů v mezinárodních vztazích. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2005, 206 s. ISBN 8071783900. info
  • BARTOS, Otomar J. and Paul Ernest WEHR. Using conflict theory. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002, xi, 219. ISBN 0521794463. info
  • POPPER, Karl R. Logika vědeckého bádání. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1997, XLIV, 617. ISBN 80-86005. info
  • CASHMAN, Greg. What causes war? : an introduction to theories of international conflict. Lanham: Lexington Books, 1993, x, 360. ISBN 0739101129. info
  • Just war theory. Edited by Jean Bethke Elshtain. New York: New York University Press, 1992, viii, 336. ISBN 0814721877. info
Teaching methods
Lectures serve exclusively only as an introduction into the issue of the course. It is assumed that the main part of the subject matter will be managed through self-studying of the special literature. Position papers serve to improve the ability of students to summarize an issue in the field of theory of conflict, war and peace and to evaluate it critically. Analytical studies serve to improve the ability of students to analyze selected issues and to work with primary and secondary sources. Finally presentations serve among others to improve presentation skills of students.
Assessment methods
During the course students have to elaborate, defend and submit one presentations , write one team analytical study on the ahead given topic, and pass 2 tests consisting of the compulsory literature.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
A more detailed syllabus, list of presentation and list of obligatory literature will be available at the beginning of the semester.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
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