DVS4211: IDENTITY, RIGHT AND DEVELOPMENT

The course seeks to examine Identity, development & Conflict across three broad areas

Why conflicts emerge, students will be exposed to the discourse as it evolved—identity, ethnicity religion, greed vs. grievance and challenges to these debates, especially in the face of contemporary protracted conflict which do not easily fit into the “causes of conflict” discourses that emerged with the rise of “new wars” in the 1990s. The role of state fragility and failure as a cause of and role in prolonging conflict will also be considered. In doing so, students will also begin to consider the overlap between the causes and consequences of conflict and violence, especially in protracted crises. Moving into the second half of the term, students also consider

The impact of protracted and widespread violence upon development prospects and human security, in particular wide-ranging social and economic consequences of conflict and the relationship between conflict and vulnerability; finally, the module will examine

How the international community responds to such complex emergencies considering both the rhetoric and practice of humanitarian responses to conflict and the challenges facing conflict-affected countries attempting to transition into post-war and recovery. Throughout the term, students will be asked to consider both academic discourses and case study examples. The course will also demonstrate that Africa can extricate itself from all kinds of poverty only if it works to be self reliant, accepting assistance on its own terms.