NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY School of Social and Systemic Studies Department of Dispute Resolution Fall Term, 1998
ARD/ADRM 6601
INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Tuesday, 6-9 PM.
Office Hours: M, T, 9:00-12:00 am or by appointment.
Nora Femenia, Ph. D.
nfemenia@nsu.acast.nova.edu
Office: SSSS Building, Room 1
Telephone: (954) 262-3021
Fax: (954) 262-3968
Course Description:
This course has been designed with a double purpose in mind. First, to offer students a wide review of the main theoretical paradigms in the field of conflict studies in international relations, with their contrasting explanations about why and how international conflict appears and develops, at different levels of analysis. Given that the field is fraught with unsuccessful attempts to manage conflict, the second aim is to give students a deep understanding on the applied aspects of international conflict resolution, either be from the formal or informal third party's point of view, with special emphasis on developing applicable intervention strategies. To this end, the review of the field will include new and transformational approaches and cutting edge research based in different values than traditional peacekeeping. This dual purpose is to be achieved in an informal class environment, where participation will allow both an in-depth evaluation of different theories predictive/explanatory power, and the review of case studies looking simultaneously at shortcomings and alternatives. It has been organized around four main areas:
I) The broad field of international relations theories
II) Present theories of violent conflict and war
III) International negotiations and pre-negotiation
IV) Third party (official and NGO-based) interventions in international conflict.
Course Objectives:
Students will review and understand the main theories that explain international relations, in the Western tradition. Students will understand the role of third party interventions in international conflict and the structural variables that define the role. Students will have opportunity to learn the intervener's perspective and possibilities at conflict resolution using a hands-on approach. Students will be able to design realistic involvement strategies as third party interveners, and know how and when they would either fail or succeed.
Learning Methods:
Lecture, writing/research, group discussions, role-playing exercises, simulations, internet-mediated interventions.
Course Requirements:
- Assistance and class participation:
This course is designed to be a highly participatory exercise, in a seminar form. You are encouraged to come to class with your readings done, and to show active engagement on the issues discussed by sharing your insights, critiques, personal recollections and experiences. In short, to be personally engaged and responsible for the learning process. I will lecture at the beginning and then lead the class discussion.To produce a high level of student involvement in this course, you share responsibility for both your individual learning process and the group's learning. Success is dependent on your degree of preparedness and participation. Thus, you should dedicate time and effort to a) discuss the assigned readings; b) to engage in any class activities in a significant way. Attendance is mandatory, and if you are absent from one class, you are responsible for recovering missed materials by contacting your instructor. Except for serious reasons such as personal documented illness, or family bereavement, a student having two unexcused absences has forfeited his/her right to the complete coursework at A level.
Class participation, 30% of your total grade, will be based on the following criteria:
- Having a clear understanding of the main arguments of authors' papers
- Knowing and expressing your critiques to the main arguments
- Associating personal experiences with the data
- Linking the materials with others previously discussed
- Asking constructive questions
- Taking care of following a participatory process in the classroom
- Helping others to learn
In class, after the seminar general discussion students will be invited to take a hands-on perspective, and dedicate the last thirty minutes to generate general policy lines for successful management or resolution of the case discussed
- Reading assignments:
Each week we have assigned some readings. You are invited to do a through reading of the main assigned readings, to be ready to participate in the general discussion.Additionally, you have to choose each week an additional paper(s) to read, from those listed under "Extra readings." The complete set of papers is available for your perusal at the East Campus Library, and from your instructor. They are offered here to provide more in depth discussion on some of the general weekly issues, and also as support theoretical materials for your final paper. By doing this extra reading(s), you will become our class expert, or the person able to provide a case-specific perspective on the general understanding of the issue. You are requested to read carefully, and then prepare a brief summary (2-4 pages) of the main points, with the essence of the author’s arguments; the relationship of that thesis to the other readings presented for that week; and you opinion of the reading(s), raising further research questions, to be presented to the whole class, after the general discussion period. In presenting, you have to take the lead role in the subsequent discussion, so prepare yourself anticipating some questions and answers to your topic.
In the last class meeting, as a group exercise, students will work developing a peace plan draft, including all the information accumulated by electronic research, in class discussions and readings. Participation in this class exercise is mandatory.
By doing these two presentations, (the summary and leading the discussion), and the final class group exercise you will get 30% of your class grade.
- Writing requirements:
Your final paper can be either a research paper or policy paper.Subjects for final papers will be chosen in consultation with instructor and a one-page prospectus must receive signed approval from the instructor after the fourth class. Theoretical issues can be chosen from the following list, or suggested to your instructor, and later applied to your particular conflict case study:
- Politico-military elites' needs and brinkmanship decision-making
- The role of media in national public's acceptance of war
- National identity mobilization and international conflict
- Enemy-image creation and the Us vs Them dynamics
- Escalation and de-escalation strategies; CBMs or Confidence Building Measures.
- Suggested mediation for the conflict described in the Melian dialogue
- Deterrence, psychology and mediation
- The US, balance of power and globalization of nuclear weapons.
- Conflict ripeness and timing of conflict interventions.
Your research theme can be applied to some other international conflict, provided that you make a cross-comparison with the same questions applied to the Falklands conflict.
Please, be sure to include the following methodological aspects:
- Definition of the variable(s) of the post armed Falklands conflict you are focusing on;
- Design of a very simple survey or questionnaire with your three basic research question(s), to be posted in the Falklands-Malvinas Discussion Forum.
- Identification of the necessary points of entry in the selected country(s) so you would be able to apply your questionnaire to the appropriate candidates;
Also remember to include an annex (one page) with your policy recommendations.
Your final paper is worth 40% of your grade. If done without internet interventions, is worth 20% of your grade.
Papers must include your name, course number, section and title, date paper was due, and a list of all bibliographical references used. You can use print outs of information gathered through searches by electronic means, or printouts of interactions in the discussion boards. They should be cited as:
Smith, Mary. (1990).-My Life (On-line)-http://www.host.net/pub/another_dir/my_life.txt
Drop, Withdrawal and Incomplete Policy
Any student who does not attend the first two class sessions and does not communicate a satisfactory explanation for these two initial absences will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Students may drop a class before completion of 12 hours of class meetings; after that time, students who wish to drop that class must formally withdraw by completing an official withdrawal form that requires the signature of the instructor and the program coordinator.
A student must make a formal, written request for an incomplete grade for family and other pre-approved emergencies; such requests, unless there is an unexpected medical emergency, must be approved before the last regularly schedule class. A student may request an incomplete, or “I” grade for a period of one semester only. Students must discuss an “I” with the instructor and obtain the instructor’s consent and signature before filing the incomplete application form.
The form includes a detailed description of the work that needs to be completed. Faculty shall not be allowed to initiate “I” grades. They must assign a letter grade of “F” if a student has not filled an “I” request form and has not completed the class assignments by the time grades are due.
Use of technology:
All students are encouraged to communicate with the instructor electronically for information and feedback on class and research paper ideas. Students are also expected to regularly check their e-mail files for information from a particular professor or from the department in general. At the first class, a list with all students’ e-mail information will be completed and circulated.
Research should be attempted through electronic means such as the internet, campus library resources, including interlibrary loan, and the electronic library. You have to plan your strategy for collecting the necessary information for your collective paper, (the peace plan draft) along the following lines:
a) Develop skills dealing with the internet milieu, and especially with the mechanics and rules of interaction of discussion boards.
b) Define a strategy for posting your three selected questions, so respondents would feel safe to answer,
c) Explain how are you going to collect responses,
d) Analysis of responses and drafting of a short policy paper on the conclusions to be included in the peace plan draft.
Also access to websites on the Falklands conflict is highly encouraged as a group exercise, to be able to take part in the last class meeting task:
· Group exercise in the design of a peace program. Identification of the conflict, sharing the necessary information; identification of main actors, issues and positions, design of a possible intervention (who, when, what kind of intervention? with what allies? political costs? probabilities of success? of failure? what if?).
· Group planning session identifying policy recommendations that would improve the chances for a successful third party intervention in selected cases. To satisfy this requirement needs some thinking about the difficulties (political, bureaucratic, and technical) that presenting, negotiating and implementing the peace/conflict resolution proposal would entail. This is the material, (the policy recommendations) to include as an annex to your final paper.
The websites to check about the conflict are:
www.falklands-malvinas.com/Discussion Forum
www.malvinas.com
www.falklands.gov.fk
www.sartma.com
Some videos on the Falklands conflict are available to support your research for papers.
Grades:
Your final grades will be a weighted composite of
2 Class Presentations and final class exercise 30%
Class participation 30%
Final paper 40%
Book requirements:
This list only covers the basics, but other books will be available for you at the East Library, on specific issues. Also, as some issues cover so different areas, the necessary readings papers will be provided for class, kept in a separate reader at East Campus Library.
· Cashman, Greg, (1993) What Causes War? An Introduction to Theories of International Conflict San Francisco:Josey-Bass)
· Kleiboer, Marieke, (1998) Success and Failure of International Mediation. The multiple realities of Third Party Intervention (Boulder: Lynne Rienne)
Additional books, available at East Campus Library:
Viotti & Kauppi (1993) International Relations Theory. Realism, Pluralism, Globalism (New York: Macmillan) 2nd Edition.
Femenia, Nora (1996) National Identity in Times of Crises: the Scripts of the Falklands-Malvinas War (New York: Nova Science Publishers)
Bercovitch, Jacob (1996) Resolving International Conflicts: The Theory and Practice of Mediation (Boulder: Lynne Rienne)
Cottey, Andrew (1994) The Pursuit of Peace. A framework for International Action (Bristol, UK:Saferworld)
Weekly reading assignments:
· Class 1, September 8
Issue: Why international conflict resolution matters for all of us?
Time will be dedicated to get to know everybody’s expectations, interests and learning objectives, plus to develop a better understanding of course requirements. Course map description. Discussion on the Melian Debate.
Readings:
Walt, Stephen (1998) “International Relations: One World, Many Theories,” Foreign Policy, Spring 1998, pps 29-47.
Viotti, P. & Kauppi, M. (1993) “Theory, Images and International Relations: an introduction,” in Viotti & Kauppi (1993) International Relations Theory. Realism, Pluralism, Globalism (New York: Macmillan) 2nd Edition. pps. 1-23.
Kleiboer, Marieke, (1998) Success and Failure of International Mediation. The multiple realities of Third Party Intervention (Boulder: Lynne Rienne), pps. 39-87.
Extra readings
Thucydides,(1954) The Melian Dialogue, in History of the Peloponnesian War, (N.York: Penguin Books)
Machiavelli, Nicolo The Prince
Homer-Dixon, Thomas (1991) A typology of Common Theories of Conflict
· Class 2, September 15
Issue: The level of analysis problem.
Individual level of analysis and human aggression. Psychological explanations of war
Moses, Raphael, (1991) “Self, self-view and identity,” in Volkan, V. Julius, D. & Montville, J. (199) The Psychodynamics of International Relations (Lexington, Mass:Lexington Books) pps. 47-55.
Readings from “Psychoanalytic Perspectives on War,” in Psychologist Psychoanalyst, Special Supplement, Summer 1991.
Readings:
Cashman, Greg: What Causes War? pps. 1-76
Extra readings
Staub, Erwin (1989) “The cultural and psychological origins of war,” in The Roots of Evil (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) pps 249-315
· Class 3, September 22
Issue: Societal Level Theories: Governmental decision-making, the rational actor model; BPM, and groupthink. Relationship between leaders’ beliefs and public opinion.
Readings:
Cashman, Greg: What Causes War? pps. 77-124
Levy, Jack S. (1989) “Systemic-levels Theories,” in The Causes of War: A review of Theories and Evidence,” in Tetlock, Ph. Husbands, Jo, Jervis, Stern & Tilly,Ch. (Eds.) Behavior, Society and Nuclear War, Vol I (New York: Oxford U. Press) pps 262-289.
Allison, Graham (1968) “Conceptual Models and the Cuban Missile Crisis,” in Viotti & Kauppi, (1993) International Relations Theory (New York: McMillan) pps. 342-374.
Extra readings
Hermann, Margaret & Hagan, Joe (1998) “International Decision-Making: Leadership Matters,” in Foreign Policy, Spring 1998, pps 124-137
Foyle, Douglas, (1997) “Public Opinion and Foreign Policy: Elite Beliefs as a Mediating Variable,” in International Studies Quarterly (1997) 41, 141-169
Verbeek, Bertjan (1994) “Do Individual and Group Beliefs Matter? British Decision-Making during the 1956 Suez Crisis,” in Cooperation and Conflict, Vol 29 (4):307-332.
· Class 4, September 29
Issues: Brinkmanship decision-making: diversionary theory of war; game theory; deterrence theory. Nationalism as social background
Readings:
Cashman, Greg: What Causes War? pps. 124-223
Lebow, Richard Ned (1985) “Miscalculation in the South Atlantic: the Origins of the Falklands War,” in Jervis, R. Lebow, Richard Ned, & Stein, Janice, Psychology and Deterrence, (Baltimore:John Hopkins University Press)
Pages, Eric ((1995) The evolution of deterrence theory: a review of the literature.
Levy, Jack & Vakili, Lily (1992) “Diversionary action by Authoritarian Regimes: Argentina in the Falklands/Malvinas Case,” in Midlarsky, Manus (Ed.) The Internationalization of Communal Strife (London: Routledge) pps. 118-146.
Extra readings:
Harvey, Frank (1997) “Deterrence and Compellence in Protracted Crises: methodology and preliminary findings,” in Research Notes, Vol 22, No 1, Winter 1997, pps. 12-23
Garnham, David (1997) “Teaching Deterrence using a Spreadsheet Simulation,” in Research Notes, Vol 22, No 1, Winter 1997, pps. 24-31
Femenia, Nora (1996) National Identity in Times of Crises: the scripts of the Falklands/Malvinas War (New York: Nova Science Publishers) pps. 21-48; 185-207.
· Class 5, October 6
Issue: International system: anarchy and power and relationship from a realist, liberal and globalist point of view.. The rational actor model and international conflict.
Readings:
Cashman, Greg: What Causes War? pps. 255-288
Waltz, K. (1982) Explaining War, in Viotti & Kauppi , pps 123-140
Extra readings:
Nazli Choucri and Robert North, (1975) Nations in Conflict (San Fco. Freman);
Lipschutz, Ronnie, (1989) When Nations Clash: Raw Materials, Ideology and Foreign Policy (Cambridge:Ballinger).
Democratic Peace Proposition (Washington, DC:USIP)
Chomsky:
· Class 6, October 13
Issue: Aggressive behavior leading to war and international security. The military-industrial complex perspective.
Readings:
Freedman, L. (1998) “International Security: Changing Targets,” in Foreign Policy, Spring 1998, pps 48-63.
Mack, John, (1990) “The enemy system,” in Volkan, V. Julius, D. & Montville, J. (1990) The Psychodynamics of International Relations (Lexington, Mass: Lexington Books) pps. 57-69.
Bluth, Christopher (1987) “The British Resort to Force in the Falklands/Malvinas Conflict 1982: International Law and Just War Theory,” in Journal of Peace Research, Vol 24, no 1, 1987, pps. 1-20.
Extra Readings
Nelson, D. (1994) “Great Powers and World Peace,” in: M. & Thomas, D. (1994) World Security. Challenges for a New Century (N. York: St. Martin Press)
The sinking of the Belgrano: a) Dalyell, Tam, 1982 Thatcher’s Torpedo, (London:Cecil Woolf Publishers); b) Gavshon, A. & Rice, D. (19..) The Sinking of the Belgrano (London:Secker&Warburg)
Femenia, Nora (1997) “Emotional actor: foreign policy decision-making in the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas War,” in Coy, Dayton, Hedeen, Hovey, Snyder and Woerhle, (Eds.) Conflicted Communities and Contested Identities: A Transdicisplinary Approach (in press Syracuse University Press)
· Class 7, October 20
Issue: Third Party Interventions in International Conflicts. Third Party Consultation. Post-war Reconciliation
Readings:
Bilder, Richard (1991) “International Third-Party Dispute Settlement,” in Approaches to Peace. An Intellectual Map (Washington, DC: USIP), pps 189-226.
Keashly, L. & Fisher, Ronald (1996) A Contingency Perspective on Conflict Interventions: Theoretical and Practical Considerations,” in Bercovitch, J. Resolving International Conflicts. The Theory and Practice of Mediation (Boulder:Lynne Rienne), pps. 235-261.
Fisher, Ronald (1994) “Generic Principles for Resolving Intergroup Conflict,” in Journal of Social Issues, v 50, n1, pps. 47-66.
Extra Readings
Pickus, Robert (1991) “New Approaches,” in Approaches to Peace. An Intellectual Map (Washington, DC: USIP), pps 189-226. pps 228-252
Kriesberg, Louis (1996) “Varieties of Mediating Activities and Mediators in International Relations,” in Bercovitch, Jacob (Ed). Resolving International Conflicts. The Theory and Practice of Mediation (Boulder: Lynne Rienne) pps 219233.
Ackerman, Alice (1998) “Reconciliation as Peace-Building Process in Postwar Europe,” in Peace & Change, 19, no 3 (July 1994) pps. 229-250.
· Class 8, October 27
Issue: The UN and International Conflict Resolution
Readings:
Skjelsbaek, Kjell & Fermann, Gunnar (1994), “The UN Secretary-General and the Mediation of International Disputes,” in Klare, M. & Thomas, D. World Security. Challenges for a New Century (N. York: St. Martin Press), pps. 75-104.
Karns, M.,& Mingst, Karen (1994), “Maintaining International Peace and Security: UN Peacekeeping and Peacemaking,” in Klare, M. & Thomas, D. World Security. Challenges for a New Century (N. York: St. Martin Press), pps. 188-214.
Boudreau, Thomas (1983) “Crisis Control & the UN,” in Worldview November 1983.
Nielsson, Gunnar (1994) “Mediation under Crisis Conditions: The UN Secretary General and the Falkland/Malvinas Islands Crisis,” Pew Case Studies in International Affairs No.127 (Washington, DC: Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University)
Extra Readings
Kehoane, Robert, (1998) International Institutions: Can Interdependence Work?,” in Foreign Policy, Spring 1998, pps 83-96.
· Class 9, November 3
Issue: International Institutions and Non-State actors’ interventions
Readings:
Raustiala, Kal (1997) States, NGOs, and International Environmental Institutions,” in International Studies Quarterly (1997) 41, 719-740.
Westas, Bo (1988) Peaceful Conflict Resolution, in Dahlen, Olle (Ed.) (1988) Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts: non-governmental organizations in the international system. (Uppsala:Life and Peace Institute)
Dahlen, Olle, “Peacemaking by NGOs,” in Dahlen, Olle, (Ed.) (1988) Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts: non-governmental organizations in the international system. (Uppsala:Life and Peace Institute)
Extra Readings
Smith, Anne-Marie (1998), Advances in Understanding International Peacemaking, (Washington, DC: USIP) pps. 1-55
Smock, David (Ed) (1998) Private Peacemaking. USIP-Assisted Peacemaking Projects of Nonprofit Organizations (Washington, DC:USIP) pps.1-48
Montville, Joseph (1991) “Transnationalism and the Role of Track-Two Diplomacy,” in Approaches to Peace. An Intellectual Map (Washington, DC: USIP), pps 255-269.
· Class 10, November 10
Issue: Pre-negotiation
Readings:
Zartman, William, (1989) “Prenegotiation: Phases and functions,” in Gross Stein, Janice (Ed), Getting to the Table. The processes of International Negotiation (Baltimore:John Hopkins University Press) pps. 1-17.
Rothman, Jay (1997) Prenegotiations in Nations. Peace Building in Jerusalem,” in Resolving Identity-Based Conflict in Nations, Organizations, and Communities (San Francisco:Josey Bass) pps. 87-108
Extra Readings
Fisher, Ronald, (1989) “Prenegotiation Problem-Solving Discussions: Enhancing the Potential for Successful Negotiation,” in Gross Stein, Janice (Ed), Getting to the Table. The Processes of International Negotiation (Baltimore:John Hopkins University Press) pps. 206-238.
· Class 11, November 17
Issue: International Negotiation
Readings:
Newsom, David, (1991) “Diplomacy and Negotiation,” in Approaches to Peace. An Intellectual Map (Washington, DC: USIP), pps. 29-43.
Mc Donald, John (1986) Case Studies in International Conflict Management (Washington DC: US Government Printing Office) pps 311-315.
Colosi, Thomas “The Iceberg Principle:Secrecy in Negotiation,” in Interpretations (American Arbitration Association) pps. 243-260
Extra Readings
Donohue, William, (1998) “Managing equivocality and relational paradox in Oslo Peace negotiations,” in Journal of Language and Social Psychology, Vol 17 No. 1, March 1998, pps 72-96
· Class 12, November 24
Issue: Third Party Interveners: International Arbitration and Mediation. Mediation under Crisis Conditions
Readings:
Bercovitch, Jacob (1991) “International Mediation and Dispute Settlement: Evaluating the Conditions for Successful mediation,” in Negotiation Journal, Jan 1991. pps 19-30.
Fisher, R. & Keashly, L. (1991) “The Potential Complementarity of Mediation and Consultation within a Contingency Model of Third Party Intervention,” in Journal of Peace research, vol. 28, no 1, pps. 29-42.
Fischer, Ronald & Keashly, Loraleigh (1988) “Third Party Interventions in Intergroup Conflict: Consultation is not Mediation,” in Negotiation Journal, Oct. 1988, pps 381-392.
Extra readings
Kleiboer, Marieke (1998) Success and Failure of International Mediation: The multiple realities of Third-Party Intervention, (Boulder: Lynne Rienne), pps. 181-203
· Class 13 December 1
Issue: The four ideal types of international mediation.
Readings:
Kleiboer, Marieke (1998) Success and of International Mediation: The multiple realities of Third-Party Intervention, (Boulder: Lynne Rienne), pps. 39-87; Explaining Mediation Outcomes; The Falklands conflict, pps 119-179.
Extra readings
Kleiboer, Marieke (1998) Success and Failure of International Mediation: The multiple realities of Third-Party Intervention, (Boulder: Lynne Rienne), pps. 89-118.
· Class 14, December 8
Issue: Group exercise in the design of a peace program. Identification of the conflict, gathering and sharing necessary information; identification of main actors, issues and positions, design of a possible intervention (who, when, what kind of intervention? with what allies? political costs? probabilities of success? of failure? what if?).
Readings:
Cottey, Andrew (1994) The Pursuit of Peace. A framework for International Action (Bristol, UK: Saferworld)