INT2007 War and Peace
- Course codeINT2007
- Number of credits10
- Teaching semester2025 Autumn
- Language of instructionEnglish
- CampusLillehammer
- Required prerequisite knowledge
INT1015 International Politics
The course examines how thinkers, political actors, and institutions have responded to the problem of war. It asks:
- How has our current understanding of international peace evolved from the Enlightenment onwards?
- What are the laws of war and how have they evolved over time?
- How can we build a stable and fair society after war?
- Can interventions aimed at preventing large-scale violations of human rights be legally and morally justified?
Learning Outcome
Having passed the course, the student has gained the following learning outcome:
The student
- has knowledge of the central areas and problems concerning international peace such as the different, and often conflicting, ideas of international peace, the legal and moral principles governing resorting to war (jus ad bellum), regulating warfare (jus in bello), and creating justice after war (jus post bellum), the history and functioning of international organizations such as the UN and the contemporary challenges to peace, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding
- has knowledge of prominent theories and arguments to address these areas and problems
- is familiar with central methods used in the study of international peace
- has knowledge of selected important and currently debated issues concerning international peace
The student
- can explain and evaluate different theories of peace and how these were translated into specific practices and institutions
- can articulate and defend their own viewpoints and positions regarding these theories
- can evaluate current international developments in light issues in international war and peace
- can collaborate and give and receive peer-to-peer feedback
- can adjust their professional practice in response to feedback and supervision
- can apply their knowledge of international peace theory to other (professional and public) debates
- can write an academic text about international peace drawing on sources from different academic disciplines
- can orient themselves in the relevant literature, both primary and secondary, and follow standard professional norms of attribution and reference
The student
- has understanding of how issues concerning international peace relate to larger societal debates
- is familiar with how to work in an interdisciplinary fashion, combining methods and findings from history, philosophy, political science, and other fields
- can discuss complex problems, both orally and in writing
- can plan and carry out an academic project both independently and in a group
- is familiar with novel ideas and innovation processes as they have emerged in the study of international peace
- respects professional, individual and cultural differences and contributes to inclusion and diversity in order to develop good academic practice
Teaching and working methods
The course comprises of lectures and seminars
- The lectures introduce students to the historical developments and theories related to the study of international peace
- The seminars elaborate on the lectures through active student participation and prepare students for their written assignments
- The syllabus literature includes books, selected articles, and book chapters
- One submitted essay that is related to the course material
- An original research proposal developed by the student
Both assignments must be handed in and approved by the person with course responsibility. The student will receive feedback on both assignments in preparation for the oral exam.
- Each student must participate in a group presentation on a specific theme from the course
The format for the presentations may vary from traditional presentation software to blogs, podcasts, and videos. The format must be approved by the person with course responsibility when groups have chosen their assignments.
| Form of assessment | Grading scale | Grouping | Duration of assessment | Support materials | Proportion | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oral examination | ECTS - A-F | Individual | 100% |
Individual oral examination. The examination will be held as follows:
- A 20-minute oral examination where the student presents and defends one of the two assignments.
- The presentation will be evaluated in terms of demonstration of academic knowledge, as well as ability of effective communication of a complex material.
- The final grading is decided after an examination with short questions from the curriculum.
| Name | Credits | Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
SHI1002 Krig, fred og fredsbygging | 5 | ||
BHIS2001 International Peace - the history of a movement. | 5 |
Reading list
No reading list available for this course
Students may not use personal computers or literature during the examination. Brief notes (no more than one A4 page) to support the presentation are allowed.