The (im)possibilities of peace in a violent world

The course is an in-depth course in the second cycle and can be studied as a single subject course. The course can be part of the following program: 1) Master's Program in Global Studies (S2GST)

Entry to the course requires 20 credits of completed second cycle courses in the field of global studies, social sciences or equivalent.

Armed conflicts and mass-violence are among the most urgent problems in the contemporary world, causing death, destruction, insecurity and deepened mistrust to an alarming extent. While peace is indeed a broadly desired societal good, how to define it and what strategies to use to attain it are fiercely contested questions. A variety of actors strive to achieve peace and end wars – from soldiers and politicians to peace activists. Moreover, the struggle for peace takes place in various spaces – from the battlefield, social media platforms and court rooms to the streets and everyday life.

This course takes its point of departure in recent trends in warfare and political violence and focuses on attempts to end wars and mass-atrocities. It analyzes efforts to achieve peace through military, political and economic means, as well as through a range of grassroots and civil society initiatives such as protests and dialogue projects. Discussing debates and actions on the global, national and subnational scales, and engaging with theoretical and empirical research, the course provides in-depth insights into both obstacles to and possibilities for peace.

After successful completion of the course students shall be able to:

Knowledge and understanding 

• describe some global trends when it comes to wars and mass atrocities; 
• account for central scholarly debates on the definition and practice of peace; 
• account for different contemporary strategies to end wars and mass atrocities; 

Skills and abilities 

• analyze perspectives and experiences of war and peace by various involved actors; 
• examine different forms of peace initiatives and the conditions of their implementation.

Judgement and approach 

• critically engage with debates about and definitions of peace and their implications; 
• critically assess the politics and analytical assumptions of peace scholarship and practice.

The main forms of teaching on the course include interactive lectures and a case study group work with presentations.

Language of instruction: English

The course will be examined through the following activities:

• 1 sit-in exam with open-ended questions (3 hp), 
• 1 group work project with oral presentation and written reflection (2 hp) 
• Mandatory interactive lectures (with hand-in of task prepared beforehand) (2.5 hp) 

Any restrictions regarding the use of generative AI (genAI) applications are indicated on the course's Canvas page (or equivalent). Students are obliged to inform themselves about the applicable rules for written assignments, seminar tasks, and exams in the current course.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG); Pass (G) and Fail (U).

• The sit-in exam is graded U/G/VG 
• The group work project with oral presentation is graded U/G 
• The mandatory interactive lectures are graded U/G 

In order to obtain the grade Pass (G) for the whole course, students need to receive Pass (G) on the sit-in exam and all other tasks.

In order to obtain the grade Pass with Distinction (VG), students need to receive the grade Pass with Distinction (VG) on the sit-in exam and Pass (G) on all other assignments.

The course coordinator is responsible for systematically and regularly collecting the students' views of the course, and for making sure that the results of the evaluations in different forms are taken into consideration when developing the course. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.