Neuer Studienplan der Europäischen Friedensuniversität

Course Calendar for the Academic Year 2008-2009

Contents and aims of the 9 Modules

Module 1: History and Introduction to Peace Studies

The first module gives an introduction and overview to the interdisciplinary filed of peace studies and focuses on the history of peace research and peace movements. The most important aim of this module is that students understand the historical development of peace and conflict research. Students will
become familiar with comparative perspectives and causes of war and peace and are sensitized to theories and methodologies of peace studies, as well as the comprehension of complex dimensions of direct, structural and cultural violence and their alternatives by peaceful means.

Module 2: International Relations and International Law

The third module attends to International Relations and the quest for peace within the world society.
Students learn about the structure of nation states and the international state system. Furthermore, students will become familiar with Human Rights and International Law and intergovernmental nonviolence.
Students will perceive that the maintenance of a peaceful international state community is bound to the strengthening of the United Nations system and to the causes and prevention of terrorism and state terrorism.

Module 3: Conflict Transformation and Peace-building

The second module deals with different dimensions of peaceful conflict transformation and focuses on different forms of conflict prevention and resolution. Students will become familiar with peaceful strategies of crisis prevention and transformation like negotiation, reconciliation and arbitration. The most important aim is to recognize the interdependence of peace building on a local, national and global scale, as well as the examination of post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction.

Module 4: National Security and Human Security

The fourth module focuses on the diversity of national and human security. Students learn about nonviolence from it serving as a philosophy as well as a practical tool. Students should recognize and understand the dimensions of violence, security and demilitarization, as well as non-military and defensive
approaches for security. The quest for a Europe as a peaceful power and its philosophy, history and identity will be identified being as important as the deeper meaning of ethnic conflicts, minority protection and the maintenance of human security.

Module 5: Regional Conflicts and Field Work

The fifth module will convey a practical understanding of regional conflict resolution and field oriented peace research. It focuses on the management and assessment of peace projects as well as region specific problems like African resources for and obstacles to peace, causes of war and peace initiatives in
the Middle East, the transition from civil war to peace in Asia or conflict transformation and reconciliation in Latin America. Students learn about region specific conflict analysis, as well as practical aspects of peace work in conflict zones.

Module 6: Sustainable Development

The sixth module focuses on Sustainable Development and its economic and ecological interconnections.
Students become familiar with the principles of a life-sustaining economy and will recognize the vast extent of structural violence in today’s “killing economy” that causes daily over 100’000 preventable deaths, many among children. The module focuses on environmental pollution, sustainable use of resources and sustaining ecology, as well as research and development of renewable sources of energy
and the decrease of climate change.

Module 7: Human Rights and Democratization

The seventh module focuses on Human Rights and democratization on a global scale. Students are confronted with gender-specific questions, different forms and dimensions of democracy development, rights and duties of governments and citizens, as well as good and bad governance and how failed states can be stabilized.

Module 8: Peace Education and the Media

The eighth module offers students an insight into the dimensions of peace education, peace psychology as well as multiple aspects of non-violent communication. Students become familiar with the relevance of global mass media and information warfare and will recognize the meaning of non-violent communication as an instrument of peaceful co-operation. Students learn about the role of peace journalism that reports not only on atrocities and destruction but also on the causes of conflicts and the search for solutions.

Module 9: Peace Culture, Religions and Ethics

The ninth and last module will combine and integrate all aspects of peace and conflict studies within a global culture of peace. This integration covers deep and conflict culture, as well as aspects and approaches of ethics, philosophy and cultures of peace. The students are sensitized to ethic standards of world religions and the perspectives of common and global world ethics beyond the borders of national, religious, ethnic and gender related dimensions.