IREn4002 Theories of Cooperation and Conflict in IR

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Martin Chovančík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Kateřina Fridrichová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Oldřich Krpec, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Oldřich Krpec, 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
Timetable
Tue 8:00–9:40 P21a
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.
Learning outcomes
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. Opening seminar on the cooperation-conflict spectrum 2. Peace and cooperation as global public good 3. Quo vadis global conflict trends and human nature (and phenomenon-centric nature of research) 4. Stability: bipolar, hegemonic, and multipolar 5. What kind of conflict 6. Cooperation versus the changing nature of political violence 7. Structural causes of conflict and models 8. The correlates of war 9. From cooperation to militarization to peace: conflict dynamics 10. Cooperative prevention of conflict 11. Conflict analysis tools 12. Conflict management 13. Conflict resolution
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,
  • CASHMAN, Greg. What causes war? : an introduction to theories of international conflict. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2013. 10: 0742566501
  • RAMSBOTHAM, Oliver, Tom WOODHOUSE and Hugh MIALL. Contemporary conflict resolution : the prevention, management and transformation of deadly conflicts. Fourth edition. Malden: Polity, 2018, xxviii, 60. ISBN 9780745687223. info
  • DRAPER, Kai. War and individual rights : the foundations of just war theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016, xii, 254. ISBN 9780199388899. 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. London: SAGE Publications, 2007, iv, 311. ISBN 9781412928595. info
    recommended literature
  • GAT, Azar. War in human civilization. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006, xv, 822. ISBN 9780199236633. 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 presentation , write one analytical study on the ahead given topic, and pass 2 tests consisting of the compulsory literature.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2023/IREn4002