Political Economy Of Peace-Building
- Social Sciences
- 800 level
- 3 credit units
- 136 pages
- 21 units
This course explores the political economy of peacebuilding, examining the causes of conflict and strategies for reconciliation in divided societies. It covers theories of conflict, the importance of justice and mercy, and the role of diplomacy and gender in peacebuilding. The course also addresses challenges in implementing peace accords, including disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration, and the impact of donor aid. Case studies, such as Sierra Leone, provide practical insights into peacebuilding processes and sustainability.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 39 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PCR812, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
- UNIT 1 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES FOR PEACE MISSIONS: STRATEGIC COORDINATIONPage 61
- UNIT 2 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES FOR PEACE MISSIONS: DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION (DDR)Page 67
- UNIT 3 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES FOR PEACE MISSIONS: INTERVENTION AND PEACE BUILDINGPage 73
- UNIT 4 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES FOR PEACE MISSION: DONOR AND DEVELOPMENT AID IN THE PREVENTION OF CONFLICTPage 78
- UNIT 5 CASE STUDY: SIERRA LEONEPage 83
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PCR812 · UNIT 1: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF PEACE AND CONFLICT
Thus, it is our aim to critically examine the underlying reasons for conflict and to give a structured and evaluative insight on reconciliation and peace building in divided societies.
What you should be able to do
- Analyze the underlying causes of conflict
- Apply theories of reconciliation in peacebuilding
- Evaluate the role of justice and mercy in reconciliation
- Understand the process of peacebuilding
- Discuss the importance of coordination in peacebuilding
- Assess the sustainability of peacebuilding
What it prepares you for
- Peace Officer
- Conflict Mediator
- Diplomat
- Humanitarian Aid Worker
- Policy Analyst
- Government
- International Organizations
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- Conflict Zones
- Development Sector
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 4:
Unit 1: Operational Challenges for Peace Missions: Strategic Coordination
The unit requires understanding of complex coordination mechanisms and diverse stakeholder interests in post-conflict scenarios.
- Module 4:
Unit 2: Operational Challenges for Peace Missions: Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR)
The unit involves grasping the intricacies of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration processes, and their long-term implications for stability.
- Module 5:
Unit 3: Democratization and Peacebuilding
The unit requires understanding of the complex interplay between democratization processes and peacebuilding in post-conflict societies.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 39 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1:
Unit 1: The Political Economy of Peace and Conflict · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Understand the political economy framework and theories of conflict.. Identify causes of conflict and characteristics of divided societies.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.1..
- Week 2Module 1:
Unit 2: Theory of Reconciliation · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Define reconciliation and explore theories of reconciliation.. Discuss reconciliation at state/regional levels.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 2.1..
- Week 3Module 1:
Unit 3: Components of Reconciliation · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Explain the components of reconciliation, focusing on truth.. Discuss the importance of truth in reconciliation.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1..
- Week 4Module 1:
Unit 4: Justice as a Factor of Reconciliation · 3 hours
Read Unit 4: Discuss justice as a factor of reconciliation.. Identify and discuss the various types of justice.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 4.1..
- Week 5Module 2:
Unit 1: Mercy in Reconciliation · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Define mercy and understand its importance in reconciliation.. Discuss the link between mercy and political forgiveness.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.1..
- Week 6Module 2:
Unit 2: Peace as a Component of Reconciliation · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Discuss peace as a component of reconciliation.. Explain the importance of peace in relation to reconciliation.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 2.1..
- Week 7Module 2:
Unit 3: The Concept of Peace · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Define peace and discuss its various dimensions.. Explain the relationship between peace and social harmony.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1..
- Week 8Module 2:
Unit 4: Approaches to Peacebuilding · 3 hours
Read Unit 4: Explain the process of peacebuilding.. Discuss the link between peacebuilding and human security.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 4.1..
- Week 9Module 3:
Unit 1: Integrated Framework for Peacebuilding · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Discuss integrated framework in relation to country-specific intervention.. Explain the need for capacity building in peacebuilding.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.1..
- Week 10Module 3:
Unit 2: Coordination of Points of Contacts for Peacebuilding · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Explain the need for proper coordination during peacebuilding.. Discuss vertical and horizontal coordination of efforts.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 2.1..
- Week 11Module 3:
Unit 3: Challenges for Designing and Implementing Peace Accords · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Explain the various challenges that occur in implementing peace accords.. Define and critically assess spoilers and their characteristics.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1..
- Week 12Module 4:
Unit 1: Operational Challenges for Peace Missions: Strategic Coordination · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Highlight challenges of peace missions and explain how peace missions are coordinated.. Explain the importance of strategic coordination.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.1..
- Week 13Module 4:
Unit 2: Operational Challenges for Peace Missions: Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Explain the concepts of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration.. Distinguish between disarmament and reintegration.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 2.1..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking theories of conflict (Unit 1) to reconciliation (Units 2-4).
- Focus on case studies (e.g., Sierra Leone in Module 4) to understand practical applications of peacebuilding concepts.
- Review key terms and definitions from each unit, especially in Modules 1 and 2.
- Practice essay questions on the challenges of implementing peace accords (Module 3).
- Allocate time to understand the roles of different actors in peace missions (Module 4).
Questions students ask about this course
What is PCR812 about?
This course explores the political economy of peacebuilding, examining the causes of conflict and strategies for reconciliation in divided societies. It covers theories of conflict, the importance of justice and mercy, and the role of diplomacy and gender in peacebuilding. The course also addresses challenges in implementing peace accords, including disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration, and the impact of donor aid. Case studies, such as Sierra Leone, provide practical insights into peacebuilding processes and sustainability.
How many units does PCR812 have?
PCR812, Political Economy Of Peace-Building, has 21 units across 5 modules, over 136 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is PCR812?
PCR812 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Social Sciences.
Is PCR812 hard?
PCR812 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does PCR812 take to study?
About 39 hours of study, spread across its 21 units.
How is PCR812 assessed?
PCR812 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with PCR812?
Peace Officer, Conflict Mediator, Diplomat, Humanitarian Aid Worker and Policy Analyst.