TAFAMCW15U Modern Conflict, War and Mass Violence in Africa

Volume 2014/2015
Content

The main objective of the course is by using a mix of theoretical inputs on contemporary war, mass violence and conflict, and then a selected number of cases from the 20-21st century to problematize the often simplified analytical notion that can be found in the description of asymmetric wars and in the new wars concept. The students will be asked to deconstruct a selected number of empirical conflict cases, different both in nature, time and space, to challenge the theoretical claims and to create a better understanding of the nature of the contemporary conflicts. The selected cases will geographically originate both from Africa and from other places, thus providing a comparative approach, while maintaining a certain focus on contemporary conflicts in Africa. One of the objectives for the course is to challenge the claim of African uniqueness.

Learning Outcome

Academic goals
The aim is for the student to acquire the following qualifications:

  • Ability to select, in consultation with the instructor, a relevant sub-topic within the overall focus area of the thematic course. The sub-topic will often be empirical in nature and geared towards specific conditions in Africa, but it can also be more theoretical.
  • Ability to independently and critically select relevant literature on the sub-topic to be studied.
  • Ability to independently and critically analyse the sub-topic in question and to place it within the overall context of the thematic course in question.
The course runs over a semester but might include an intensive period and combines lectures and classroom discussions, requiring participation and active engagement. This will be supplemented by a number guest lectures with specific knowledge of key aspects of the themes covered in the course.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 28
  • Course Preparation
  • 272
  • Exam
  • 120
  • Total
  • 420
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period
June 2015
Criteria for exam assesment

The grade of 12 is given at the exam when the student demonstrates:

  • Confident ability to identify and define a sub-topic and an issue of relevance to the overall theme of the thematic course.
  • Confident ability to independently and critically select relevant literature on the sub-topic to be studied.
  • Confident ability to independently and critically analyse the sub-topic in question and the chosen literature.
  • Confident ability to conduct an interdisciplinary analysis of the sub-topic in question and to place it within the overall theme of the thematic course in question.
  • Confident ability to communicate academic material in a clear, concise and well-argued manner.
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 45 min.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period
June 2015
Criteria for exam assesment

The grade of 12 is given at the exam when the student demonstrates:

  • Confident ability to identify and define a sub-topic and an issue of relevance to the overall theme of the thematic course.
  • Confident ability to independently and critically select relevant literature on the sub-topic to be studied.
  • Confident ability to independently and critically analyse the sub-topic in question and the chosen literature.
  • Confident ability to conduct an interdisciplinary analysis of the sub-topic in question and to place it within the overall theme of the thematic course in question.
  • Confident ability to communicate academic material in a clear, concise and well-argued manner.