Peace and Conflict Studies (MLitt)
Programme Coordinator: Professor Andrew Williams
The Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies lasts for one academic year (12 months), commencing in September, and involves a taught component as well as a final 15,000-word dissertation, IR5099 Dissertation Booklet (PDF, 201 KB)
This programme aims to provide students with an opportunity to work on peace and conflict theory, broader issues relating to peacebuilding and peace processes (including gender, development, etc), and on specific case studies in conflict analysis. Perhaps most importantly, it will provide a guided fieldwork experience for students in a post-conflict and development setting, in order to introduce them to both the physical and intellectual terrain of a peace process.
Students will develop the skills required to analyse the roots, dynamics, key actors and issues-areas in specific conflicts, and to evaluate specific responses to such conflicts. They will be introduced to the theoretical frameworks contained within conflict analysis that can be used to develop an understanding of case studies. Problems associated with researching conflict and violence will also be tackled. This theoretical training will provide the practical basis for students to engage in a detailed case study of their own and gain experience of empirical research in the field. The programme specifically examines the following:
- Analytical frameworks for understanding the roots of conflict;
- Different issue areas that cause or exacerbate conflict, including state-interests, territory, sovereignty, development, resources, identity, culture, ethnicity, and representation;
- The different actors involved, including local and regional leaders (political, social, cultural, religious etc) plus the UN, Agencies like UNDP, World Bank, NGOs etc.;
- The different strategies used to continue the conflict;
- The resources required for conflict;
- Research strategies and problems for/ in researching conflict;
- The success or failure of the various approaches that have emerged for addressing the conflict;
- Topical and case studies.
Key modules may include
IR5151: Issues in Peace and Conflict (semester 1)
IR5701: Peace and Conflict Theory (sememster 1)
IR5702: Case Studies in Conflict, Exemplar Case Study/ Fieldwork (semester 2)
IR5723: Security and Conflict in Africa (semester 2)
IR5725: Globalisation and the South (semester 2)
NB Fieldwork costs are not included in the upfront tuition fee. These costs are expected to be not more than £1500 in total.
Please address enquiries to the postgraduate secretary irpg@st-andrews.ac.uk.
For details of the application procedure, please see Prospective students.
