IR3053 Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Transition in Latin America

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

11.00 am Tue

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr C A Ardila

Dr C A Ardila
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr C A Arevalo

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The module presents a detailed introduction to the process of conflict transformation in Latin America since the Third Wave of democratisation in the region during the 1980s. The approach taken in the module will be to contrast the theory and practice of conflict transformation and peacebuilding and will include a primary focus on the role and intervention of the United Nations System. In this regard, analysis will centre on conventional forms of peace-keeping, peace-making and peacebuilding supported by the United Nations, as well as on more innovative initiatives, in particular in local-level pecebuilding. The module engages with and evaluates key theoretical frameworks relating to conflict, peacebuilding, the State, democratisation and sovereignty and will be relevant to students interested in developing a career in public policy and policy-making in national and international institutions. We will evaluate the impact of regional United Nations interventions, which will include an innovative analysis that juxtaposes elite peacebuilding practices with local-level peacebuilding initiatives. The module will include conferences from UN functionaries.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks), 2 consultation hours with Coordinator (x 12 weeks). 2 hours examination feedback in week 1 of following semester.

Scheduled learning hours

20

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

280

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand and critically reflect upon the theoretical frameworks and practices of peace-keeping, peace-making and peacebuilding.
  • Identify certain historical experiences and tendencies shared by the region’s countries, whilst maintaining a critical eye on specificities of country contexts
  • Understand experiences of conflict, violence, transitional justice and post-war reconstruction in Latin American
  • Explain the relationship between conflict transformation, peacebuiding, democratisation and post-war reconstruction.
  • Comprehend those factors, at local, national and international level, that shape transition and post-war reconstruction.
  • Critically assess the relevance of the applied theoretical frameworks in the context of Latin American. Achieve an in-depth and rigorous understanding of the case studies and how they might contribute to theoretical thinking.

Additional information from school

This module may be trialing CADMUS, an online assessment platform.