Fall 2000

Fall 2000

American University

School of International Service

International Development Program
CONFLICT AND DEVELOPMENT (33.540.01)
COURSE OBJECTIVES

Conflict and Development provides a forum for seeking answers to questions about the relationship between international development and violent political conflict within nations.

Such questions include the following:

How can violent political conflict be most usefully defined, measured and described?

Among schools of thought that theorize about causes of violent conflict, which best explains the ubiquity of violent political conflict in many developing nations?
How do development strategies and the management of development increase the probability of violent conflict, contribute to outbreaks of violent conflict and exacerbate the intensity of violent conflict when it does occur?
Why have violent political conflicts been frequent or endemic in some nations; why have the development experiences of some other nations been relatively free of such conflicts?

How can development strategies, programs and projects be better crafted to minimize the risks of violent political conflict and contribute to non-violent sustainable development?
How can stakeholders in the development process play effective, appropriate roles in conflict prevention, conflict management, post conflict stabilization and post-conflict reconstruction?
What are the highest leverage actions on which development practitioners, who are concerned with the goal of minimizing violence in the development process, should focus their attention and energies?

LOGISTICS AND PROCEDURES

Instructor: Professor John Richardson

Office Hours: Wednesdays: 8.15-10:15 PM

Fridays: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon ; 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

(Consultations during office hours are scheduled by appointment. You will find sign up sheets posted outside the International Development Office for the entire semester. You may sign up or call the International Development Program Office Manager for an appointment at 202 885 1657 and 202 885 1660. When you do sign up, please be sure to leave your phone number so that you can be called if a conflict or emergency arises. Occasionally, the time scheduled for Friday office hours may be interrupted by a meeting or other event. Information about such conflicts will be posted as soon as it is available. If you have signed up and left your phone number, you will be called.)

Office: Hurst Hall 204D

Phone : Office Phone: 202-885-1487; Home Phone: 703 527 5497

Email & Fax : jrich@american.edu ; 703-527-8970

(Feel free to call me at home if you need to, but don’t call after 7:00 PM unless it is an emergency.)

Class Meetings: Mondays 8:10-10:40; Hurst Hall 211

Books

The following have been ordered by American University’s Bookstore

Harold Crouch, Government and Society in Malaysia (Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1996)

Kingsley M. de Silva, Reaping the Whirlwind: Ethnic Conflict and Ethnic Politics in Sri Lanka (New Delhi: Penguin Books, 1998)

Donald M. Snow, Distant Thunder: Patterns of Conflict in the Developing World (Armonk, New York and London: M.E. Sharpe 1997)

Mary B. Anderson, Do No Harm: How Aid Can Support Peace – Or War (Boulder and London: Lynne Reiner 1999)

The following can be ordered from the Carnegie Commission on the Prevention of Deadly Conflict, 1779 Mass. Avenue, NW, Suite 715, or downloaded in its entirety at http://www.ccpdc.org .

Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict, Preventing Deadly Conflict (New York: Carnegie Corporation, 1997)

The following can be downloaded from the website of the UN Research Institute for Social Development at http://www.unrsd.org/wsp

Gilles Carbonnier, Conflict, Postwar Rebuilding and the Economy: A Critical Review of the Literature. War-torn Society Project (WSP) Occasional Paper No. 2. UNRISD, March 1998.

The following books are among those that would also be useful additions your library if you intend to continue your study of conflict and development. The titles starred* have been assigned in previous versions of the course and may be available at the AU Bookstore inexpensively.

Crane Brinton, Anatomy of a Revolution* (New York: Vintage, 1965)

Ted R. Gurr, Minorities at Risk: A Global View of Ethnopolitical Conflicts (Washington, DC: U.S. Institute of Peace Press, 1993

Louis W. Goodman, et al., eds. The Military and Democracy: The Future of Civil-Military Relations in Latin America (Lexington, Mass.: Lexington Books, 1990)

Ted R. Gurr and Barbara Harff, Ethnic Conflict in World Politics* (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1994)

Donald Horowitz, Ethnic Groups in Conflict* (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985)

Theda Skocpol, Social Revolutions in the Modern World * (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995)

Timothy Sisk, Power Sharing and International Mediation in Ethnic Conflicts (New York: Carnegie Corporation, 1996)

Stanley J. Tambiah, Maddening Crowds: Ethnonationalist Conflicts and Collective Violence in Southeast Asia (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996)

The World Bank, The State in a Changing World: World Development Report 1997* (Oxford University Press - for The World Bank, 1997)

Students who have not previously completed either the undergraduate or graduate International Development course would be well advised to read the following volume, which is a core text in the graduate level course. Should you not have time to read the entire book, reading Chapter 2, "Forty Years of Economic Development: 1950-90" is a must.

James H. Weaver, et., al., Achieving Broad-Based Sustainable Development: Governance, Environment and Growth with Equity (West Hartford, Conn. Kumarian Press, 1997)

Course materials will be distributed in the traditional manner and will also be available via the BLACKBOARD technology on the World Wide Web. Accessing the course web site will be the subject of a separate handout.

Expectations

As this is a 500 level course, class members are expected to share the responsibility for contributing to the learning experience within the classroom. It is desirable to attend all classes and do all the assignments. If you miss classes you will get behind and find it difficult to catch up.

A list of readings for each class session has been provided. In addition, handout material will be distributed in class or posted on the web site. periodically. All assignments should be completed and handed in on the date specified.

Late submissions will be downgraded two points from the numerical grade for each day late ( for example from 82% to 80%), unless an extension has been given. Requests for extension should be made by E mail at least one day before the assignment is due. As noted above synopsis/discussion papers will only be accepted on the day they are due.

Assignments and Grading

Grades diminish in importance, relative to what you actually learn, as courses become more professionally oriented. This is less true, however, for undergraduates and graduate students who may be seeking admission to a competitive master’s or doctoral program. If this is true in your case, we should have a conversation about your educational goals and how you can increase the probability of earning the grade that you need.

Numerical grades will be assigned to all graded work. Letter grades will only be assigned at the end of the semester.

Correspondence between numerical and letter grades is as follows:

A 96-100	C+ 73-76
A- 90-95	C 66-72
B+ 86-89	C- 63-65
B 81-85	D 57-62
B- 77-80	F 0-56

Calculation of your final grade will be based on the following weights:

7 Synopsis/Discussion Papers	15%
Group Presentation: Conflict and Development Resources	5%
Individual Reports: Conflict and Development Resources	5%
Group Presentation: Comparative Case Study	10%
"Client Oriented" Report on Case Studies	20%
Annotated Bibliography	10%
State of Knowledge Assessment - Thematic Essay	25%
Class participation	10%
	100%

Written assignments (excepting the synopsis/discussion papers) will be discussed in separate handouts. Brief synopses of each assignment follow.

Synopsis/discussion papers will record your "reactions to" or "reflections on" the week’s reading, guided by the discussion questions for each part of the course. There will be no numerical grade given, but each paper will receive a check (1.5 points) a check plus (2.0 points – but these will be rare) or a check minus (1 point) depending on my assessment of its level of thoughtfulness and thoroughness. Only papers that are delivered on time will receive points, and you must be in class to receive points. Choose a minimum of seven weeks to submit papers. You may submit more for additional credit. Grades will be given by ranking the aggregate point totals for all class members and then scaling the ranked values.

Group presentations on research organizations and journals that focus on conflict and development (conflict and development resources). This assignment provides class members with the opportunity to review the current state of knowledge on conflict and development issues as reflected in published journal articles and World Wide Web resources. Group reports are intended to provide a service to the entire class by acquainting us with a spectrum of publications, the issues they address, the methodologies they use and the most significant findings.

Individual presentations on conflict and development resources. From the material examined by the group, each group member is asked to pick out one source – typically an article, working paper or other publication that they found particularly interesting and useful. A briefing paper of about 3 pages will be prepared.. The briefing paper should include a synopsis and respond to the questions: "Why did I find this particular item to be of interest?" and "How do I feel it contributes to our understanding of conflict and development issues?"

Group presentations on comparative case studies. Part two of the course focuses on comparative case studies of conflict and development. Through our study of Malaysia and Sri Lanka, two ethnically diverse Asian nations, we will be seeking answers to the question: "why have violent political conflicts been frequent or endemic in some nations while the development experiences of others have been relatively free of such conflicts?" Answers to this question, in the context of specific cases, may also help us to assess alternative conflict theories and conflict prevention strategies discussed in our readings. To enrich our discussion of Malaysia and Sri Lanka and test the generality of our conclusions, it will be useful to examine some other cases as well, both individually and comparatively. We will do this in group reports and individual analytical essays. Each class member will be asked to become an "expert" on the conflict and development experience of one country.

Individual "client oriented" reports on conflict and development case studies. These reports, focusing on individual or comparative case studies will be written to address the concerns of a particular "client." Identifying the client, as well as her or his needs will be part of the assignment. These reports are to comprise about 7 pp. of text, plus additional materials.

Annotated bibliography: Class members will be asked to prepare an annotated bibliography of at least 20 entries, focusing on aspects of conflict and conflict that are of particular interest to them. This and the following assignment will begin by identifying a question or set of questions to guide the inquiry.

State of knowledge assessment – thematic essay. This essay will draw upon the works reviewed in the annotated bibliography and provide an assessment of what is known and not known in the areas of interest identified. In some respects this approximates the "literature review" section of research paper, article, or consulting report. To illustrate the format of the assignment, Several exemplars will be posted on the class BLACKBOARD site. These essays are to comprise about 12 pp. of text, plus additional materials.

Group Work is Encouraged

Most professional work in development is done collectively, though this is – unfortunately – less true in the case of academic writing. With the exception of the individual reports on conflict and development resources you are not only permitted, but also encouraged to submit all required written work for the course as collaborative efforts. To provide modest encouragement for this, collaboratively written papers will receive a two-point bonus. Papers will be assigned a single grade, which will be given to each co-author.

LIST OF CLASS TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Part I. Describing Violent Conflict; Relationships Between Violent Political Conflict and Development

Discussion Questions

How can we define and describe "violent political conflicts" in developing nations? Is there a meaningful taxonomy for characterizing such conflicts?

What are the root causes of such conflicts; what theories are most useful in explaining why such conflicts occur?
What role have international development policies, programs and projects played in causing such conflicts; in preventing such conflict?
To what degree are such conflicts country specific and idiosyncratic; to what degree can we generalize across conflicts and across countries?

Course themes and class overview. Mapping the terrain; sharing goals and experiences [8/28]

HANDOUT: Syllabus; Course information sheets; Description of Resources Assignment; Accessing BLACKBOARD.

ACTIVITY: Need to get organized for "resources" assignment, even though some class members will be coming late. Students should sign up.

HOLIDAY

Defining and theorizing about violent political conflict [9/11]

HANDOUT: Description of comparative case-study reports. We will sign up next class. Description of annotated bibliographies and thematic review essays.

READING: JR, Coding Instructions for Violent Conflict Events [BB]; JR, "Understanding violent conflict in Sri Lanka: how theory can help"[BB] ; JR, Introduction to causal loop diagramming [BB]; Preventing Deadly Conflict, "Executive Summary" and "Prologue."

DUE: Synopsis #2

Resources for the study of conflict and development – group reports [9/18]

READING: Burcu Akan and Naren Kumarakulasingam, Entangled Linkages: Development, Ethnicity and Political Violence (BB) ; Johnny Holloway, Annotated Bibliography and Thematic Essay on Policing and Militant Movements (BB). JR and Jianxin Wang, Ethnic Peace Accords and Ethnic Conflict Resolution: A Survey. Skim Conflict, Postwar Rebuilding and the Economy… as another example of a thematic essay.

DUE: Power-Point presentation on groups and organizations that focus on conflict and development -. to be posted on BLACKBOARD. Three to four page (double-spaced) individually synopsis and critical review of one resource identified in your group reports.

PLANNING AHEAD: Be prepared to sign up for country case studies today. We will sign up organize groups for comparative case study reports, to be given in class and the end of Part II. We will discuss the annotated bibliographies and thematic essays.

The context of violent political conflict; how and why violent political conflict occurs [9/25]

READING: JR and Shinjinee Sen, "Ethnic Conflict and Economic Development: A Policy Oriented Analysis"(BB); JR "Violent Conflict and the First Half Decade of Open Economy Policies in Sri Lanka: A Revisionist View," Part 1 (BB); Preventing Deadly Conflict, Chapts. 1 & 2; Distant Thunder, Chapts. 1 & 2; Conflict, Postwar Rebuilding and the Economy..., Preface and Parts 1 & 2.

DUE: Synopsis #4

Part II. Comparative Case Studies in Conflict and Development

Discussion Questions

How can we use the comparative method to learn more about the questions and issues being addressed in this course?

To what can the very different development experiences of Malaysia and Sri Lanka most be attributed: democratic practices? Governance? Economic policies? Decisions of political, ethnic and business leaders? The role of the international community?

What can we learn from the experience of these two nations that is of more general relevance? In what areas should be cautious about generalizing from their experiences?

Why have violent political conflicts been frequent or endemic in some nations; why have the development experiences of some other nations been relatively free of such conflicts?

Sri Lanka. Introduction and Context [10/2]

READING: Notes on Theda Skocpol, Social Revolutions in the Modern World (BB); Reaping the Whirlwind, Chapts. 1-5. Check out the Government of Sri Lanka’s website, the website of Sri Lanka’s Embassy to the United States and other websites on Sri Lanka.

DUE: Synopsis #5. Chronology of significant events and list of key players in the unfolding of Sri Lanka’s violent conflicts

HOLIDAY

Malaysia. Introduction and context [10/16]

READING: Government and Society in Malaysia, Preface and Chapts. 1-8. Check out the Government of Malaysia’s website, the website of Malaysia’s Embassy to the United States and other websites on Malaysia.

DUE: Synopsis #6. Chronology of significant events and list of key players in Malaysia’s post independence history

Sri Lanka and Malaysia – Development strategies, governance, and the economy [10/23]

READING: Selective reading of Government and Society in Malaysia or Reaping the Whirlwind. You are encouraged to complete both books by the end of Part II, if time permits. However you should focus the issues listed above from the perspective of one of the two countries and be prepared to discuss this in class. JR "Violent Conflict and the First Half Decade of Open Economy Policies in Sri Lanka: A Revisionist View," Parts 2 & 3 (BB);

DUE: Synopsis # 7. Focus on this session’s issues for either Sri Lanka or Malaysia

Sri Lanka and Malaysia Compared – Race, religion, ethnicity and regionalism ; the internationalization of violent conflict [10/30]

READING: Same as session 7.

DUE: Synopsis #8. Focus on Sri Lanka or Malaysia

Group reports – comparative case studies [11/6]

DUE: Power-Point presentations for comparative case studies - to be posted on BLACKBOARD.

Part III. Preventing Deadly Conflict; Development Assistance in Conflict Settings ; Post Conflict Reconstruction and Reconciliation

Discussion Questions

How can development strategies, programs and projects be better crafted to minimize the risks of violent political conflict and contribute to non-violent sustainable development?

How can stakeholders in the development process play effective appropriate roles in conflict prevention, conflict management, post conflict stabilization and post-conflict reconstruction?

What are the highest leverage strategies and programs on which development practitioners, who are concerned with the goal of minimizing violence, in the development process, might focus their attention and energies?

What role must considerations of reconciliation and justice play in post conflict stabilization and development? To what degree are these norms complementary? To what degree are they in conflict?

"Insurgent and militant movements and groups" ; operational prevention ; peacekeeping operations [11/13]

ASSIGNMENT: Either individually, or with one or two class members, check out a web site of one militant movement and be prepared to report on it briefly.

DUE: Synopsis #10. Try to focus, in particular on the organization, resourcing and worldview of militant/insurgent movements. Client oriented reports on individual case studies.

READING: Distant Thunder, Chapters 3, 5, 8; JR, Sinhalese and Tamil Militancy in Sri Lanka [BB]; Johnny Holloway, Thematic Essay and Annotated Bibliography on Militant Movements [BB]; additional reading peacekeeping to be assigned.

Development assistance in conflict settings; coaching session on thematic essays [11/20]

DUE: Draft of annotated bibliographies; outline of thematic essays (for feedback only). Be prepared to speak briefly about the organization of your thematic essays.

READING: Do no Harm, Part 1 and at least two case studies.

DUE: Synopsis #11

Development assistance in conflict settings (contd.) Structural prevention and the role of the international community [11/27]

READING: Do no Harm, remaining case studies and Part 3. Preventing Deadly Conflict, Chapters 4-12.

DUE: Synopsis #12

Post conflict reconstruction: the state of knowledge [12/4]

READING: Conflict, Postwar Rebuilding at the Economy…, Review Parts I and II and read the remainder of the report. Check out the Websites of the US Institute of Peace and the World Bank’s Post Conflict Group.

DUE: Synopsis #13

Post conflict reconstruction and reconciliation: the case of Liberia [12/11]

READING: Ryota Jonen, Post-Conflict Reconstruction In Liberia: People-Centered Strategy and Impacts of Liberian Civil Society

DUE: Synopsis #14

Oral Reports on Thematic Essays [12/18]