Conflict & Development - POL00018M

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Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2025-26

Module aims

The module seeks to develop a critical understanding of development in contexts of pervasive violence. In doing so it takes a broad understanding of “conflict” which is not limited to “war” or even “armed conflict”. Our interest includes contexts of pervasive violence involving organised criminal gangs or widespread societal violence without clear sides as well as wars and armed conflicts. We seek to understand the political and economic relations which produce and sustain violence, and how societies might move out of violence. In doing so we focus on development in terms of human development and the agency and strategies of local actors.

Throughout the module we seek to look from the local to the global – to focus on the analysis of cases taking into account the agency of local actors while recognising that the identities and strategies of local actors are shaped by global connections.

Each week students can choose a case study reading from Latin America (eg Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru); Sub-Saharan Africa (eg Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia); the Middle East and Central Asia (eg Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan) or South East Asia (eg Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, the Philippines).

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the roles of states and economic development in the emergence of violence.
• Explain the complex relations between development and violence in some contemporary conflict zones.
• Demonstrate awareness of the non-formal institutions and cross-state networks that connect conflict zones, state actors and the global economy.
• Analyse the ways in which political and economic relations are produced and reproduced in violent contexts.
• Critically reflect on the coping strategies of local populations in contexts of pervasive violence.
• Critically analyse the relations between international peacebuilding and the emergence of everyday and local forms of peace.

Module content

1. Introduction and Context

2. (Re)defining Development

3. Resource Curse, Shadow States and Grey Zones

4. Inequalities and Conflict

5. Networks and Markets

6. Development, Participation and Power

7. Responsibilities, Responses and Failures to Respond

8. Peace Processes and Peacebuilding

9. Postwar Economic Recovery

10. Revision and Assessment Preparation

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.

Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 25 working days; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s regular feedback and guidance hours.

Indicative reading

Cramer, Christopher (2006) Civil War is Not a Stupid Thing: Accounting for Violence in Developing Countries. Hurst.

Nordstrom, Carolyn (2004) Shadows of War: Violence, Power, and International Profiteering in the Twenty-First Century. University of California Press.

Hickey, Sam and Diana Mitlin (eds) (2009) Rights-based approaches to development: exploring the potential and pitfalls.

Mac Ginty, Roger (2021) Everyday Peace: How So-called Ordinary People Can Disrupt Violent Conflict