15160

WiSe 13/14: Einführung in die Friedens- und Konfliktforschung

Michael Daxner

Comments

This lecture will provide an overview on P&C research. I shall present some philosophical aspects and partially a short history of ideas, but the main focus will lie on research. We shall start with a simple question: what do we know about P&C, how do we know what we know? Then I will discuss the problem of the relation between peace and conflict. Can we separate them, shall we? One of the main assumptions of the lecture is that peace is a normatice principle and conflict is a reality in every society. Peace can be attained mainly by conflict regulation, while conflict is a dynamic element of society. I will refer to conflict theories as provided by social science and anthropology (no psychology, though), mainly Simmel, Coser, Dahrendorf, Parsons, and more recently Elwert and his school. From here I shall develop a concept of social order by conflict resolution - and the permanent dispute between normative and constructivist approaches and the conclusions from empirical research. Then we will investigate peace-making, peacekeeping, peace-building - and its relation to both conflicts (ethnic, religious, honor- and dignity related etc.) and the central category of power. I shall first analyse, what role institutional actors like the UN (DPKO) or EU, NATO or some states can play; and then discuss, where peacekeeping is no top down undertaking for a state (system), but a life-world rooted activity for society, thus combining micro-level and macro level. Between theory-packed lectures I shall give you some relief, referring to research institutions, journals and other sources that you may use in the course of your study or even active research. Finally, I shall present a few examples for diverse research aspects, e.g. prognostication of civil wars, the whole of nation approach in comprehensive approaches, concrete peacekeeping missions (Kosovo, Afghanistan), and the "Burden of Peace" (Hannah Neumann) in post-war societies. Please take note that many examples are taken from a German perspective as all of you study in Germany and many of you are Germans. However, there will be sufficient bridges to Anglophone and other sources and organizations as to give you a broader, international perspective. close