Course descriptions

Conflicting Theories

The academic literature offers a variety of theoretical perspectives on the causes and dynamics of contemporary conflicts. These theories focus on different dimensions of conflict, such as the political, the economic or the social. They look for explanations either in structural factors or in the strategies of key actors; they also look at different levels, from the local to the global. Theories rarely give conclusive answers and give rise to much debate. Do conflicts originate from greed or grievance? Does democratization bring peace? Are ethnic differences a source of conflict or an instrument in conflict? In this course we try to understand how theories differ and why the theoretical perspective matters for the study of conflicts. Students will learn to position themselves in the theoretical debates and will practice using theoretical perspectives to analyse a particular conflict.

During eight weekly sessions, various theoretical perspectives will be discussed with the active participation of the students. Students are expected to read the literature in advance and make short 'kick-off' presentations. The texts in the reader discuss a certain perspective or debate and provide examples of the use of such perspectives in the analysis of particular conflicts. Parallel to the lectures, students will elaborate on a case study of a conflict to which they will apply the theories discussed. In the final session, students will give a presentation on the basis of their case studies. (The course also prepares for a field trip to a (former) conflict area in January during which students will relate academic debates to lived experience. In contrast to earlier years it is planned that this field trip will take place in the framework of a separate course. Check out the website for latest information. Students will then participate in the preparations for the field trip).

Geopolitics of Borders

Drawing and marking spatial boundaries is one of the fundamental ways in which human societies organise themselves. This course will provide incoming masters students an advanced seminar in the field of the geopolitics of borders. To this end, the course adopts a largely critical geopolitical perspective. Critical geopolitics refers to a body of scholarship that emerged in the early 1990s and bridges the academic disciplines of Geography and International Relations. Setting itself in opposition to ‘classical’ Geopolitics, critical geopolitics conceptualises geopolitics as a set of discourses, representations and practices, rather than as a coherent, neutral and objectivist science.

Amongst others, within geopolitics this has also lead to the analysis of popular manifestations of geopolitics, such as through films, pop stars, novels and media. A recent interesting example that could be an interesting topic of studying for instance is how the conflict in Belfast is related to the fight for democracy in Iran by U2 during their concert in Spain, Barcelona:

More in general, this course seeks to understand the practices of debordering and rebordering in societies. We will notably analyse thinking about the borders at significant geo-political conjunctures such as the rise of late 19th-century European imperialism, post-WWI nationalism(s), Cold War frontier geopolitics, the rhetoric of post-1989 ‘borderless’ globalisation and the emergence of cross-border cooperation, the contemporary period of (re)securitised boundary-making and (re)bordering of the ‘west’ vis a vis the Moslim civilisation). Literature that will be used will be coming from statesmen, intellectuals of statecraft, geo-politicians, geographers and like-minded folk who have had and have a significant influence in setting the conceptual framework for understanding the borders – both internal as well as external – of the world we live in today.

Political and Geographical Conflict Resolution

In this course the student becomes acquainted with the various geographical and political strategies for the prevention, management and resolution of violent conflicts. The student learns to recognize the different levels of the spatial dimension of conflict prevention, management and resolution and learns to deconstruct the various discourses on the subject and place them into perspective.

Central to this course is the spatial dimension of the different strategies for the prevention, management and solution of violent conflicts. Using cases such as the former Yugoslavia, Cyprus, Israel-Palestine and Iraq, an overview is given of the various discourses on and strategies for conflict prevention, management and resolution. The whole spectrum of options, ranging from drawing borders to reforming electoral systems, is treated extensively.

Excursion

The excursion to a (former) conflict zone is a compulsory course of the master specialisation in Conflicts, Territories and Identities. The excursion builds on to the various other courses of the program, in particular to the courses: Geopolitics of Borders, Political and Geographical Conflict Resolution and Conflicting Theories.

In general, the master programme focuses on the analysis and management of violent territorial conflicts. It offers state-of-the-art knowledge; familiarising students with the political and social construction of conflicts, territories and identities, and with the theory and practice of (inter)national conflict management. In the core program students are confronted with multiple perspectives and approaches. Students are encouraged to analyse, deconstruct and contextualise different discourses on conflict, to position themselves in theoretical and policy debates and to use theoretical perspectives in the analysis of particular conflicts.

The excursion allows students to apply the acquired insights and skills to a specific and highly challenging case. The excursion engages students in (1) learning to integrate the knowledge acquired on conflict analysis and conflict management and (2) applying academic knowledge to practice. Students will be challenged to draw upon their academic knowledge to understand the particular conflict region of destination and similarly will be invited to question their theoretical insights on the basis of what they find in the particular (former) conflict zone. Such a ‘dialogue’ between the theory and practice of contemporary conflict is an indispensable element for students on their way to become future ‘experts on conflicts’.

Prior to the excursion students will be taught by the lecturers of this course on the theoretically inspired insights on the case study, will study a reader, will prepare a seminar in the Netherlands with experts on the (former) conflict zone, and will be actively involved in the preparation of the interviews to be held in the case area.

After the excursion, the students will be asked to write a paper that will be graded.

The excursion has a distinct added value for the master programme that is highly valued by the students. It has proven to add significantly to the attraction as well as the overall intrinsic value of the Nijmegen programme.

Preparing the Master Thesis

This course is aims to teach you how to structurally develop and reflect upon your research design and the methods used for data collection and analysis. After completing this course, you will have completed your research proposal for the master thesis, including a detailed project planning. By doing this you will be able to make a 'flying start' with your actual master thesis project. In this course you will further develop your skills in preparing and elaborating a research proposal. The final goal is to prepare a concrete written research proposal in the format of a research proposal for the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). This will be evaluated by the thesis supervisor and if possible also by an (external) 'expert'. You will be assigned a thesis supervisor as soon as possible to provide feedback on drafts versions of the proposal and related exercises building up to the proposal. Furthermore you will be expected to also use the expertise gathered during your study to discuss, evaluate and criticise methodological aspects of the proposals of your fellow students. To stimulate this process we will deal explicitly with ways to set up a bibliography, an expert network (consisting of scholars but also practitioners and policymakers concerned with themes of relevance to the topic of the master thesis. Before starting the actual research for your master thesis the proposal has to be graded by your supervisor as sufficient. An important focus therein will be on the degree to which translation of research questions into a concrete research design and empirical methods has been achieved.

Master Thesis (including Research Apprenticeship)

On the basis of your approved research proposal you start your master thesis research at the organisation of your choice where you do your research apprenticeship. You will be supervised by both a supervisor in the apprenticeship organisation and by your master thesis supervisor at the university. Since this is the 'proof of the pudding' you will be expected to conduct your research independently. Your supervisors will of course provide the necessary support you as advisors and coaches, but you will have to direct your research work yourself, and take the first initiative. You are also responsible for the time management of the research and of your research apprenticeship. Our experience shows that such a master thesis research project will take at least six months, although not always full time. Your master thesis research should be a scientific theory led empirical research project taking a practical socio-spatial problem as the starting point. Ultimately your research efforts should result in a complete and innovative academic report: the master thesis.