Peace, Security and Conflict Resolution University of Zambia

Overview

Generalizations about conflict and warfare claim that conflict is inevitable in human organizations. Yet there is a dearth of scholarly attempts to understand the nature, causes, course and the varied impacts of conflict, or of ways to bring about peace in the context of an internationally accepted legal regime. The study and practice of managing conflict resolution and peacebuilding in all societies is probably the most important intellectual pursuit in humanities and social sciences. 

In this context, the Peace, Security and Conflict Resolution programme at University of Zambia will prepare practitioners and students to be effective in building enduring peace and resolving conflicts at family, national, regional and even global levels. The graduates from this programme will also have skills in restoring and managing post-conflict situations.

Aims of the programme

Specifically, students will be able to show a critical understanding of:

• Key issues and debates related to the theories of peace and practices of peacebuilding, state building, conflict management, resolution, and transformation.
• The range of social science topics that influence peacebuilding, state building, conflict management, etc
• Students will become familiar with the methodological and normative underpinnings of these disciplines.
• The analytical and policy literature concerning peacebuilding, international governance structures, state building, and the role of key actors and institutions including NGOs and military and other security actors.
• An understanding of local approaches to peacebuilding, including an awareness of the problems and critiques associated with `bottom up' approaches.
• The development of a range of academic and professional/transferrable skills through both independent and group-based work.