THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies)

Postgraduate Course: Gender, War and Peacebuilding (PGSP11526)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe relationship between gender and war has historically been seen as so obvious (men wage war, and women weep) that it has largely been ignored by scholars and politicians who think about war. But nothing could be further from the truth, and over the last twenty five years, the roles of men and women in war- making and peace-making have increasingly become matters for research, knowledge building and policy. This interdisciplinary course will examine the gendered political economies of peacebuilding and armed conflict. A variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the relationships between gender, armed conflict and peacebuilding will be employed, with an eye toward assessing the strengths and limitations of each.
Course description This interdisciplinary course will examine the gendered political economies of peacebuilding and armed conflict. A variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the relationships between gender, armed conflict and peacebuilding will be employed, with an eye toward assessing the strengths and limitations of each.

Issues likely to be covered:
What is gender?
Gender's role as causing and perpetuating war
Militarised masculinities in state and non-state armed groups
Gender, the arms trade and nuclear weapons
Sexual violence in war
Migration and displacement
Gendered war economies
Gender in peace processes
Building peace economies that work for women
Transitional Justice
Demobilisation, Disarmament, Reintegration
UN peacekeeping and sexual exploitation

The students will learn through a combination of teaching practices including mini-lectures, group discussions, group presentations and other structured group activities.

Assessment will involve a group presentation, and a longer essay at the end of semester. Students will received feedback on the group presentation, to enable them to learn from this feedback in advance of their long essay. All students will be offered the opportunity to submit an essay plan for comment.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  30
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 10, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 166 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Group Presentation 20% (15 minute presentation, by groups of 3-4 students, prepared over a few weeks)«br /»
Long essay 80% (4000 words) at the end of semester «br /»
Feedback This field should be used to describe the assessment and feedback strategies used on the course, along with their indicative pattern and schedule of feedback.

The presentations are aimed at allowing students to develop research, analysis, communication skills, and the ability to work in a team. The groups are provided with prompt questions and advice. The precise remit of the presentations varies according to the issue being covered. Examples of presentation topics:
- What contribution did women made to the peace processes in Bosnia Herzegovina/Colombia/Afghanistan? [different groups research different countries]
- Are militarized masculinities the root cause of militarism and war? [different groups argue for or against the proposition]
- Critically assess the policy response since 2000 to sexual violence/ peacekeeper perpetrated sexual exploitation in conflict affected areas.
Groups receive about 500 words of feedback on the depth of research, critical analysis, judicious editing, and their presentation skills. They receive this within 48 hours of the presentation. They see the feedback form in advance, so the criteria for evaluation are clear. They pick a topic at the start of semester.

The group presentations will aid students in developing the requisite skills for the long essay, due at the end of semester. These skills are:
a) Critical analysis.
b) Clarity of expression.
c) Accuracy in representation of argument and context.
Students will also be offered the opportunity to submit a one-page essay plan for comment. They have to submit this plan two weeks in advance of the essay deadline.

Feedback will be returned via the gradschool feedback sheet within 15 working days.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of sex and gender as categories of analysis in relation to war making and peacebuilding
  2. Develop the ability to reflect critically on feminist thinking on war-making, peacebuilding and the concept of security
  3. Understand and critically evaluate the links and differences between feminist and mainstream approaches to the study of war-making, peacebuilding and security
  4. Develop research and analytical skills that facilitate independent learning
  5. Communicate with others in a clear and concise manner, both verbally and in writing, nurtured in seminar activities, group work, and essay construction and feedback.
Reading List
Cohn, Carol (ed) (2013) Women and Wars, Polity Press
Detraz, N (2012) International Security and Gender, Polity Press
Duncanson, C (2016) Gender and Peacebuilding, Polity Press
Sjoberg L (2014), Gender, War and Conflict, Polity Press
True, J (2013) The Political Economy of Violence Against Women, Oxford University Press
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills The course will enable students to develop skills in:
1. Critical Analysis. Students will improve their ability to critically analyse, evaluate and synthesis
complex and abstract ideas.
2. Communication. Students will learn how to communicate effectively, using appropriate methods, with a range of audiences.
2. Autonomy. Students will demonstrate leadership and initiative and make an identifiable contribution to new ways of thinking.

(See SCQF learning characteristics 3, 4 and 5 for level 11)
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Claire Duncanson
Tel: (0131 6)50 4624
Email: C.P.Duncanson@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Emilia Czatkowska
Tel: (0131 6)51 3244
Email: Emilia.Czatkowska@ed.ac.uk
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