COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title: CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND DIPLOMATIC LANGUAGE
Code Course Type Regular Semester Theory Practice Lab Credits ECTS
PIR 449 B 1 3 0 0 3 7.5
Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) NA
Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: Reina Shehi , Tuesday 10:00-11:30; Friday 10:00-11:30
Second Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: NA
Language: English
Compulsory/Elective: Elective
Classroom and Meeting Time: Thursday, 18:00-20:45 E-311
Course Description: The course offers concepts such as conflict, conflict management, negotiation, mediation, reconciliation, etc. Conflict Resolution includes multidisciplinary studies and provides an alternative way to recognize and manage conflicts beyond judicial processes. Since the subject is offered under the Department of Political Science and International Relations, most of the themes affect the analysis and methods of resolving political conflicts, especially those that transcend national boundaries.
Course Objectives: The basic purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the emerging field of conflict resolution and its relationship to planning and policy-making. Understanding the legal context is critical to recognizing the value of alternatives to litigation. Practitioners of conflict resolution use analytical and intervention skills to address organizational, policy and legislative concerns in areas as diverse as the workplace, the community, government and international relations. Increasingly, they build on innovations in negotiation, mediation, organizational development and communication to design systems to improve decision-making and to manage conflict. Accordingly, the focus of the course is also experiential; emphasizing the construction of knowledge and skill development, it provides students with opportunities to apply concepts and practice negotiation and intervention skills in hypothetical and factual policy and international contexts.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week Topics
1 Why and How Conflict Happens? Introduction to the Field of Conflict Resolution
2 Understanding and Interpreting Conflict Styles/Modes; Conflict resolution skill training, critical tool to resolve inter-group conflict
3 Understanding Contemporary Conflict: Theories and Frameworks
4 Principled Negotiation& Mediation
5 Book Review_ Optional to Students’ Choice
6 On the Concept of Peace
7 Mechanisms and Methods of Non-Violence
8 The Resolution of Conflicts between States
9 Midterm Week
10 International Organizations in Conflict Resolution
11 Conflict Resolution in Civil Wars: Conflict Mapping- Albanian Civil War (1997)
12 Post-Settlement Peace-Building and Reconciliation: Case Study: International Organizations in Conflict Resolution
13 A discussion of Main Dilemmas in Conflict Studies: Justice, Human Rights and Economic Well-Being
14 Concluding Remarks
Prerequisite(s): N/A
Textbook: Bercovitch J., Kremenyuk V., Zartman W.I., (2009) The Sage Handbook of Conflict Resolution, Sage Publications Wallensteen P., (2017) Understanding Conflict Resolution, Sage Publications Nye J., (1997), Understanding International Conflicts: An Introduction to Theory and History, 2nd Edition, Pearson Longman Barash D.P., Webel Ch.P., (2009) Peace and Conflict Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, 2nd Edition, Sage Publications. Cunningham, E. (2011) Barriers to Peace in Civil War, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: UK UNESCO Yearbook on Peace and Conflict Studies (1984), Greenwood Press, and New York: USA Foundation for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation of Dipsutes, Tirane/ Albania, Manuals and Newsletters http://www.mediationalb.org/index.php?idr=79&mod=3&lang=2 Hagen, T (2013), Forgiveness, Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Balkans: A Survey of Albanian Students, International Balkan Annual Conference Smith, E.F; Pechous, E.J ( 1999), Crisis Management and Conflict Resolution in Late 20th Century Europe: Albania- A Case Study, Institute for Defense Analysis, file:///C:/Users/User1/Downloads/ADA359987.pdf
Other References:
Laboratory Work: N.A
Computer Usage: N.A
Others: No
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1 Students will understand advanced concepts of conflict and mechanisms of conflict resolution in different levels of politics.
2 Students will understand that context, the relationship of conflicts to politics, the limits of law and legal processes to resolve conflicts.
3 Students will understand the place that and conflict resolution occupy in the main social science disciplines.
4 Students are introduced to problem-solving scholarship and case studies.
COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)
No Program Competencies Cont.
Master of Science in Economics Program
COURSE EVALUATION METHOD
Method Quantity Percentage
Homework
1
25
Midterm Exam(s)
1
25
Project
1
25
Final Exam
1
25
Total Percent: 100%
ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)
Activities Quantity Duration(Hours) Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) 16 3 48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) 16 4 64
Mid-terms 1 24.5 24.5
Assignments 2 13 26
Final examination 1 25 25
Other 0
Total Work Load:
187.5
Total Work Load/25(h):
7.5
ECTS Credit of the Course:
7.5