BA Peace and Conflict Studies
This course responds to an important need - to better understand the causes of war and the challenges of making peace. With the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet bloc, many people believed it would be easier to construct a new international order dedicated to peace. Instead there have been new wars in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia and the continuation of old wars and conflicts in these and other parts of the world. But there are also places where peace and stability have been established for considerable periods of time, and there are many different international organisations - both governmental and non-governmental - that are working ceaselessly to bring about peace.
Our course relies on the disciplines of politics, history, political economy and international relations to explore these global problems and the efforts to resolve them. In addition to introducing you to a range of subjects, the course also provides an opportunity to apply what you are learning. For example, an intermediate level module, Working for Peace in Situations of Conflict, has been designed with a non-governmental organisation (International Alert), and will provide some practical training. There is also an opportunity for a few students to attend an intensive international summer course in Hiroshima, where they will learn about the impact of the nuclear bombing and peace-building.
The degree as a whole offers students an academic background, and a range of skills, for work in several fields, including governmental and non-governmental organisations dealing with such issues as peacekeeping, peace-making, human rights monitoring, refugee and asylum seekers support work and international journalism. It will also be extremely useful if you are seeking work in other contexts, such as international commerce, where an understanding of tensions is important. Finally, the degree provides a foundation for postgraduate programmes in peace and conflict resolution and international relations.
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