Peace-Building and Human Security

Participation in classes – 15 h;

Direct preparation for classes (including consultations and feedback) – 20h;

Reading literature – 20h;

Preparing a speech and multimedia presentation – 20h

Total: 75h (3 ECTS)

A student:

K1: has profound knowledge about the objective and character of international politics and their interdisciplinary specificity related to security studies (K_W01);

2K: has profound knowledge about the rights of the individual and communities in the international arena and is familiar with the mechanisms of peace-building such as the United Nations and other international organizations, legal instruments such as international criminal courts and tribunals as well as truth and reconciliation commissions (K_W07);

K3: has detailed knowledge about international relations affecting security is aware of the threats caused by fragile States to human security (K_W08).

A student:

S1: analyses and interprets the legal documents and reports issued within international organizations and relevant literature (K_U01);

S2: analyses and interprets legal texts of international law of peace and security (K_U10).

A student:

SC1: is ready to autonomously and critically evaluate the information (K_K01);

SC2: is able to think and act in a creative manner (K_K03).

The classes are conducted with the use of the method of an introductory lecture followed by presentation made by two- or three-students groups. After that there is a discussion with the participation of all students present.

Conventional lecture and presentations.

During the classes we will explore the functioning of security at the global level in its subjective aspect including human security or human dimension of security as well as peace building and various activities and operations fitting in with that concept. The mutual relations between the concept of human security and the concept of peace building will be presented.

Apart from the information contained in the brief description the classes will attempt to answer the following questions:

1. How to define security, national security, international security, socio-cultural security, economic security and, in the light of this, human security? What are the relations between the latter and socio-cultural and economic security?

2. What were the reasons for the concept of human security to arise? What is its genesis? Is this concept useful at all?

3. What is the value of the concept of human security? Is it innovative?

4. How should we understand peace?

5. What activities are undertaken in the framework of peace building and what organs and institutions may contribute to peace building and are they efficient?

6. What is the role of peace keeping operations for the peace building?

7. What is the role of humanitarian interventions and “responsibility to protect” concept for peace building?

8. What is the role of humanitarian and developmental aid in building peace and development?

9. Will and how the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals translate into peace building and implementing human security?

10. What is the role of the rule of law for peace building?

11. What is the role of transitional justice for peace building? What mechanisms may be utilized in the framework of transitional justice?

12. What is the role of international criminal tribunals in the fight against impunity and eradicating violence and in this way peace building and implementing human security?

13. What are the advantages and disadvantages of transitional justice mechanisms?

14. What is the role of civil society for peace building?

15. What is the role of civil society on solving the problem of “failed States?”

16. What meaning the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants have for peace building?

17. What meaning the proliferation of small and light weapons has for peace building?

18. What are the instruments ate the disposal of international community to fights illegal trade in small and light weapons?

19. What is the role of peace building for the “failed States” problem solution?

20. What are the implications of the State failure to human security?

21. What are the solutions for “failed States” problem?

22. What is the role of peace building and human security in the fight against terrorism?

Basic literature:

1. Bloomfield D., Barnes T., Huyse L. (ed.), Reconciliation After Violent Conflict. A Handbook, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Stockholm 2003;

2. Chesterman S., Ignatieff M., Thakur R. (ed.), Making states work. State failure and the crisis of governance, United Nations University, Tokyo-New York-Paris 2005;

3. Mason T. D., Meernik J. D. (ed.), Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding in Post-War Societies. Sustaining the Peace, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, New York-London 2006;

4. Tigerstrom (von) B., Human Security and International Law. Prospects and Problems, Hart Publishing, Oxford and Portland, 2007;

Additional literature:

5. Arnold R., Knoops G. J. A. (ed.), Practice and Policies of Modern Peace Operations Under International Law, Transnational Publishers, Inc., New York 2006;

6. Holzgrefe J. L., Keohane R. O. (ed.), Humanitarian Intervention. Ethical, Legal, and Political Dilemmas, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2003;

7. Schmitt M. N., Beruto G. L. (ed.), Terrorism and International Law: Challenges and Responses, San Remo, 2003;

8. Thakur R., The United Nations, Peace and Security, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2006;

9. Welsh J. M. (red.), Humanitarian Intervention and International Relations, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004.

Each student taking part in the classes has to present a paper (oral presentation – K1, K2, K3, S1, S2). I will also take into account the attendance and activities during classes (SC1, SC2).

1 absence is allowed.

Not applicable