Admission requirements
Only students of the MSc Crisis and Security Management, enrolled in the specialisation ‘War and Peace Studies’, can take this course.
Description
This course is an advanced introduction to the history, core concepts, and scholarly debates related to the academic field of peace studies. You will study the concept of peace and its various dimensions as analysed by core peace thinkers and you will examine how peace is conceived of by multiple policy actors in practice. You will interrogate the different approaches to understanding peace, from a variety of political thinkers and peace theorists. Empirical topics covered on the course include international interventions in conflict, peace and justice, the UN and AU's approaches to peace, and others.
In this course, we will focus on data collection. Collecting and assessing data is an important academic research skill. What data or sources are available, how can you collect additional data, what data do you need in order to answer a research question, and how can you use data to come up with a valid answer or assessment? Within the field of CSM, reliable and valid data frequently are hard to collect and/or assess or compare.
Within this research dimension, different topics should be addressed:
1. Reflect on the suitability of the chosen method to the aim of the study
2. Data sources
3. Data selection or operationalization of variables
4. Reflect on the quality of the data you gathered (validity; reliability)
The academic skill of collecting and assessing data is relevant for the professional context, for instance as part of producing a risk or threat analysis. Within the professional field of CSM there is often a need to assess future risks and threats. It is crucial to consequently address the suitability of data and to make very explicit the margins of error and/or uncertainty of the conclusions drawn from the data.
Course objectives
By the end of this course students will obtain the following skills:
Academic skills
1. Understand the main theoretical and conceptual approaches taken in the study of peace;
2. Understand the accomplishments and shortcomings of the academic study of peace in terms of topical focus and conceptual approaches, and real-world impact;
3. Identify new and long-standing topics within peace studies;
4. Critically assess the degree to which research on peace is able to provide answers to practical issues surrounding the promotion of peace;
Research skills
5. Identifying relevant primary sources in the analysis of peace initiatives for a specific conflict.
6. Collect, analyze and reflect on the quality of the data produced about peace
Professional skills
7. Transfer these academic insights into a professional policy context;
8. Self-evaluate and reflect after interactive in-class work and individual assignments;
9. Present arguments and analyses in a format appropriate for both an academic and broader professional audience;
10. Collaborate in a team on a collective project in-class.
Timetable
On the right side of programme front page of the studyguide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Brightspace.
Mode of instruction
Attendance is mandatory, and highly recommended in order to pass the course. Active participation during the sessions benefits the students in preparing for assessments.
Total study load: 280 hours
Contact hours: 42 hours
Self-study hours (reading, preparing lectures, assignments, reflection, etc.): 238 hours
In this 10 ects course, we will focus on the research skill assignment that is going to be part of your portfolio. Specific information on the portfolio assignment and the intended learning outcomes that are being acquired will be published in the syllabus of this course.
Assessment method
Assessment for this course is based on three components:
Assignment 1: Individual assignment
20% of final grade
Grade can be compensated in case of a fail (< 5.50)
Resit not possible
Assignment 2: Group assignment testing the skill
30% of final grade
Grade cannot be compensated in case of a fail (< 5.50)
Resit possible
Assignment 3: Exam
50% of final grade
Grade must be 5.50 or higher to pass the course
Resit is possible
Resit will take the same form.
Additional, formative (non-graded) assignments may be an obligatory part of the course.
The calculated overall course grade must be at least 5.50 in order to pass the course. If the calculated overall course grade is lower than 5.50, students are also permitted to resit the 50 % policy paper.
In the case of written assessment methods, the examiner can always initiate a follow-up conversation with the student to establish whether the learning objectives have been met.
Attendance is mandatory, and highly recommended in order to pass the course. Active participation during the sessions benefits the students in preparing for assessments.
Transitional arrangement
Passed partial grades obtained in year 2023-2024 remain valid during year 2024-2025.
Please be aware that passed partial grades obtained in academic year 2024-2025 are no longer valid during academic year 2025-2026.
Reading list
A selection of books and articles, will be provided in the course outline on Brightspace.
Registration
Register yourself via MyStudymap for each course, workgroup and exam (not all courses have workgroups and/or exams).
Do so on time, before the start of the course; some courses and workgroups have limited spaces. You can view your personal schedule in MyTimetable after logging in.
Registration for this course is possible from Wednesday 16 July 2025 13.00h
Please note: Registration for the resit of an exam (and exam) is mandatory, this has to be done by the student and can be done from Monday 1 December 2025 until 10 days before the exam. Until 5 days before the exam you can email OSC and fill in a form.
Leiden University uses Brightspace as its online learning management system. After enrolment for the course in MyStudymap you will be automatically enrolled in the Brightspace environment of this course.
More information on registration via MyStudymap can be found on this page.
Contact
dr. Marie Robin m.p.c.e.robin@fgga.leidenuniv.nl
dr. Tom Buitelaar t.j.a.buitelaar@fgga.leidenuniv.nl