Course Introduction

Andrew Russell, Latin America Adviser, UN Development Programme

Rationale

The causes of conflict are manifold, and attempts to point to one determining factor are generally not successful. We have, however, in recent years seen the emergence of certain trends and empirical research suggesting strong linkages between scarcity, inequality and institutional weaknesses in societies and their ability to ensure peace and security. Most of the world's 20 poorest countries have experienced significant violent conflict in the past decades and the vast majority of current conflicts are located in the developing world. Conflict is, most simply, a failure of development. Furthermore, conflict reverses development gains and can set a country back decades.

International policymakers are increasingly cognisant of the role that development actors can and must play in conflict-prone environments. While humanitarian and military interventions focus on meeting basic, emergency needs of affected populations and on bringing an end to deadly violence, development interventions are longer-term and focus on addressing the root causes of conflict, eradicating poverty, transforming social capital and building the capacity of societies to manage their tensions in a peaceful and constructive manner. In pre-conflict situations, well-targeted development interventions can address the inequalities and tensions that might lead to violence. Development actors are increasingly deciding to remain present even during active conflict, particularly in situations of protracted, low-intensity violence, where development needs can still be met. Similarly, development actors are engaging in the immediate aftermath of a crisis to liaise with humanitarian actors to facilitate the transition from relief to long-term stability. In such situations, development programmes focus on reintegrating and rehabilitating affected populations and on reconstructing damaged infrastructure.

Both the conflict resolution and the development communities are beginning to come to terms with what it means to do development in crisis countries. This is reflected in decisions by UNDP and the World Bank, among others, to create specialised post-conflict units. It is evident also in debates in the Security Council on issues such as peacebuilding, conflict prevention and HIV/AIDS and in statements and reports of the Secretary-General. The peace and security and economic and social agendas of the United Nations have long been separate � structurally, philosophically and in many other ways � but recent developments are changing that. Several development organisations are working on methodologies for conducting peace and conflict impact assessments of development programming. The EU has recently reconfigured both its diplomatic/humanitarian and its development directorates to bring them closer together, while any donors are considering the creation of budget lines that spread across these previously separate spheres. The recent UN Report of the Panel on Peace Operations (�the Brahimi report�) emphasised the need for greater structural integration of peace, security and development, particularly in areas like prevention and peace-building.

Understanding the links between development, peace and security is vital for students hoping to pursue careers in any of those areas. Taught by practitioners with a mix of field and headquarters experience, this course will strongly emphasise the practical and policy implications of these links. Students will be introduced not only to the concepts but also to the working methods of the United Nations. With guidance on UN processes, participants in the class will be encouraged to come up with useful policy prescriptions for the UN and other organisations to operationalise the links between development, peace and security and/or to design strategies and programs that could be applied to real or theoretical crisis/post-crisis scenarios to integrate the development perspective into the international community�s efforts to facilitate peace and stability. In particular, students will be required to present these prescriptions in the form of a policy brief to one of the executive decision-making bodies of the UN. There will also be group work, particularly in the units addressing specific cases. top

Course Description

This course will be taught by practitioners and will reflect the latest thinking on the nexus between development, peace and security. Particular emphasis will be placed on conflict prevention and on peacebuilding and post-crisis recovery. The approach will be interdisciplinary and case studies will be used to illustrate and explore the links. Each class will be managed as a roundtable discussion, requiring a high degree of participation by all class members. Occasionally, more formal presentations will be made, followed by discussion. Prior familiarity on the part of the students with the UN and how it works would enhance the quality of discussions. The course will focus on: 1) UN policy- and decision-making structures; 2) Development actors, approaches and tools, especially within the UN system; 3) Analysis of conflict stages and development interventions, with particular stress on prevention and peacebuilding; 4) Regional and comparative case studies of UN prevention and peacebuilding/recovery programmes; 5) Exploration of emerging trends in theory and practice. top

Objectives

a)     To become acquainted with conflict environments and the broad range of actors and approaches, notably within the UN, involved in promoting development in crisis and post-conflict situations;

b)     To become familiar with the issues in general related to development in crisis and post-conflict situations and to examine specific, illustrative cases;

c)     To engage the students in the policy and programme elements of a development-oriented response to conflict and post-conflict and to introduce them to the research and policy development and programming methods of the United Nations;

d)     To introduce students to what it feels like to work with these issues daily, within the UN, and to guide them through the complexities of the UN�s policy-setting and decision-making arrangements;

e)     To analyse emerging trends and possible new approaches and to make policy recommendations in this are for the UN and other organisations for enhancing the effectiveness of international cooperation for development in crisis and post-conflict situations.top

 Format

Seminar. The course will focus on discussion-based learning with some case-teaching (focused on the Balkans, Central America and Central Africa) and role-playing, leading to the development of policy briefs and presentations on issues or cases (to be determined jointly by the students and lecturers). Some classes may feature guest lecturers and video presentations. Additionally, the class will take advantage of web-based tools for learning, in order to share work and ideas, communicate amongst each other and with other practitioners and to establish direct contact with national counterparts in crisis and post-conflict countries. top