Students will be broken up into 4 groups. Each group will have a range of grade levels. 2 groups will each choose a conflict in Africa and 2 groups will each choose a conflict in the Middle East. There are two parts to the final project. In the first part, students will analyze a conflict and describe the key actors. In the second part, students will supplement the analysis they completed in part one with description of tools of peacebuilding.
After completing each part, the students will present their analysis to their peers.
Your completed final project (Part I and II) is due on Friday, April 16, 2010. Your submission should be no more than 2 separate documents.
Part I is due on Friday, February 12, 2010. Part II is due after the second visit to the Institute. Ms. Dzedzic will provide additional mini-deadlines to help you work in groups.
PART I.
Each group will produce:
1. A 2-page (single spaced) analysis of the conflict.
2. Description of the key actors.
3. Conflict cycle chart showing important events that escalated or de-escalated the conflict.
Requirements:
- Choose the time frame of the conflict. For example, in the Rwanda case study, you looked at Rwanda up to the point where RPA took control of Rwanda.
- I recommend that you do not choose a current conflict. For example, if you choose the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is on-going, limit the time frame for your analysis up to 2000.
- Your submission must be in narrative format, except for the conflict cycle chart, of course.
2-page analysis of the conflict:
The 2-page narrative will have the following sections and elements, but the information within paragraphs need not be presented in the sequence listed here.
Introduction
- Description of the period of conflict covered in this analysis.
- A statement about the focus of your analysis. For example, the focus of the case study was the murder of 800,000 people over 100 days in Rwanda.
- Two or three sentences about the key actors, grievances, sources of resilience.
Conflict Description
- Core Grievances
- Key actors in escalation
- Windows of vulnerability
Conflict Prevention/Management Opportunities
• Sources of Resilience
• Key actors for de-escalation
• Windows of opportunity
Description of the Key Actors
- For each, describe the environment, concerns, perspective, motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. (half a page to one page each)
- Your key actors should include, but do not have to be limited to, actors in the government, community, international governmental organizations, non-governmental organization, and other countries that have a stake or interest in the conflict.
Conflict Cycle
- Use the conflict cycle by Michael Lund and Rwanda’s cycle by Matthew Levinger (to be provided)
PART II.
Your completed final project (Part I and II) is due on Friday, April 16, 2010. Your submission should be no more than 2 separate documents.
Your submission should be in paragraph format with section headings and subheadings where useful, except for the conflict curve and conflict map. This is the second part of your final assignment, and is a continuation of your analysis. Your finished project should reflect this continuation and should be free from formatting, grammar and spelling errors.
1. Complete the conflict curve and conflict map if not already done
2. Identify and describe at least 1 peacebuilding approach that was used during the period chosen for the analysis
- Which type of peacebuilding approach is this? Why?
- Who does it involve? How does it work?
- How effective was this approaches for the conflict?
- What are its strengths?
- What are its weaknesses?
3. Suggest at least 2 additional peacebuilding approaches that could have been used. Your suggestions should address the needs of the conflict period that you have analyzed.
- Which type of peacebuilding approaches is this? Why?
- When should it have been implemented? Why?
- Who does it involve? How does it work?
- What are its strengths?
- What are its weaknesses?
On April 26, each group will do a formal 5 minute presentation. Each group should come to the session at the Institute w/ presentation materials. All groups will take part in peer evaluation.
I look forward to reviewing your work!
