Lerninhalte |
The seminar-style course has a theoretical seminar and "clinic" each Monday afternoon of the semester.
The theory part offers a survey of theories and approaches important for reconciliation and peace studies. Classical and Modern approaches are introduced, as well as contemporary positions: realism, contractarianism, communitarianism, cosmopolitanism, deliberative democracy, Hannah Arendt, and recent emancipatory traditions. Student attendance and participation in discussions are important for course and considered in grade assessment. The seminar includes a day-long PON (Harvard Method) role-playing exercise dealing with political conflict, values negotiation, and political ethics. Course is offered in English language. With assistance from instructor, each student prepares and presents a policy brief on a topic relevant for conflict and peace studies. This brief is defended in an oral exam format at end of semester. Submissions may be in English or German.
The "clinic" part of the seminar deals with conflict, justice, and reconciliation issues using a case-study method. The clinic deepens themes covered in the “theory” seminar. Issues treated include political transparency, just use of force, non-violent resistance, race and identity politics, systematic inequality, democracy threats, economic issues in conflict, and topics introduced by students. This clinic is designed to be flexible and experimental - and current events may be addressed, analysed, and evaluated in real time. The objective of the course is to recognize, analyse, and form arguments regarding contemporary political-ethics issues. Seminar language is generally English, and participation benefits from German language contributions as well. |