This module takes an in-depth look at the problems that post-conflict states face with a special consideration of Sub Sahara African countries. We will investigate a number of country cases, such as DR Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Nigeria. We will discuss different types of problems the populations in such states are facing and investigate what means of external (international) assistance have been used to improve the situations. We will look at peacekeeping, peacebuilding, democratization, humanitarian and development assistance projects and the major actors carrying these out. The module provides an overview over the recent debates on the relationship between conflict, security and development. It will provide you with important background knowledge and the relevant skills for understanding a major problem field in the Global South, and why the international community often fails to deliver what it promises.

• In following the module you will gain a basic understanding of the problems that post-conflict states face.
• You will know the main tools of addressing these problems and what is critical about them.
• You will learn how to conduct an analysis of political situations in least developed countries.
• You will have an understanding of the main academic positions and methodologies on this issue from a security as well as a development studies perspective.

Teaching is by 18 lectures and five seminars of 50 minutes each. Learning is by active participation in the lectures, via seminar preparation (reading), seminar participation, short presentations on a selected topic, feedback on the presentation, feedback on two literature reviews as well as feedback on the end of class essay.

You develop the capacity of coping with and using different competing and overlapping disciplinary and paradigmatic perspectives.

You will be equipped with the major tools of analysis political situations in post-conflict countries

You will practice how to analyze problems from a pragmatic and pluralist perspective.

You will train your analytical, writing and presentation skills

In this module we will firstly look at basic concepts underpinning current policies towards post-conflict states. We will look at the concept of security, the concept of development and recent conceptual inventions such as human security or peacebuilding, which are attempts to combine security and development concerns. We will continue in investigating a number of post-conflict countries. This will give us the opportunity to draw on current cases and situations, but it will also allow that participants specialize on a distinct country. Based on our case knowledge we will investigate a range of substantial problems that post-conflict countries face and what can be done about it. Participants will write their final essay on the country they are specializing on.

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