Admission requirements
Only students of the MSc Crisis and Security Management can take this course.
Description
Disaster and conflict intersect with and influence one another in numerous ways. For instance, areas affected by violent conflict are more vulnerable to high-impact disasters. Disasters such as droughts can act as threat multipliers for various types of conflict. Disasters that occur in the midst of violent conflict have led to the end of conflict in some cases, but worsened it in others. As the world is increasingly seeing the impacts of climate change, including the increase in droughts and intensity of storms, it is becoming more pressing to understand the linkages between the two.
This course starts with an understanding of disaster governance, after which it explores how disaster and conflict intersect. The course will look at how various inequalities along gendered, racial, and socio-economic lines, amongst others, become visible in and are exacerbated by the impacts of natural hazards, and conflict. It further investigates the various actors that respond to and are involved in conflict and disaster at the local, national, and international level, and analyzes how actors such as governments, corporations, NGOs and international organizations mitigate or exacerbate populations’ vulnerability. This course encourages students to apply theory to practice, such as through case studies.
Course Objectives
After completing the course the student will be able to:
Identify the ways in which disaster and conflict are interlinked and influence one another.
Identify and compare key challenges in disaster governance in countries across the world.
Apply concepts and theory to real world policy questions.
Analyze how political, social, and economic factors influence disaster impact and governance and identify the relationship between disaster impacts, conflict, and inequalities.
Develop policy advice for different audiences.
Timetable
On the right side of programme front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Brightspace.
Mode of Instruction
The course is a mix of lecture and discussion. Active participation by students and an interactive teaching style are central to the course.
Attendance is mandatory. Students are only allowed to miss more than one session if there are special, demonstrable personal circumstances. The Board of Examiners, in consultation with the study advisors, will decide on such an exceptional exemption of mandatory attendance.
Total study load: 140h
contact hours: 21h (sessions) ·
self-study (reading, preparing lectures, assignments, etc.): 119h
Assessment method
The learning goals associated with this course (see above) will be assessed through 2 summative assessments.
Discussion questions
30% of final grade
Resit not possible
Grade must be compensated in case of a fail (grade < 5.50)
Final paper
70% of final grade
Resit is possible
Resit takes the same form
Grade must be 5.50 or higher to pass 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 70% final paper assignment.
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.
Transitional Arrangement
Passed partial grades obtained in year 2023-2024 are no longer valid during year 2024 -2025.
Reading list
A selection of books and articles, podcasts and documentaries will be announced on Brightspace.
Registration
To be announced by OSC staff.
Contact
Dr. Valerie de Koeijer v.j.c.de.koeijer@fgga.leidenuniv.nl