Kennedy Institute Peace and Conflict Studies Module- Summer School
Understanding Conflict: The Irish Experience A problem-oriented Peace and Conflict Studies module
Syllabus
Module Description
This is a problem-oriented Peace and Conflict Studies Module designed to meet the needs of international students at Maynooth University. Its intent is to help students understand the nature and impact of violent conflict, with special reference to the Irish situation.
It addresses the problem of how humans manage conflict, in order to instill an understanding of the nature and impact of conflict in society.
The Module uses the prism of the long and intractable conflict in Ireland as the basis and primary case study to elucidate the issues involved. This approach will maximize the benefit of the students’ experience of being on the ground in Ireland to give the material a unique authenticity, immediacy and relevance.
The Module incorporates concepts from Psychology, Sociology and Economics that have become mainstream to help explain the origins, the logic and the motivations for violence. It unites the emphasis on conflict as a process of social interaction with practical examples drawn from Irish experience. By looking at the Irish conflict from historical, political, sociological and international perspectives, students will explore how it is possible to move from a situation of violent conflict towards a transformative peace. The overall matrix and rubric of the module entails interactive contextual tutorial style classes and workshops, together with supervised independent study at Maynooth University, during the entire period of the Summer School. The Module will examine how the concepts examined relate to the Irish conflict. In particular, the Module will examine how the Enemy System Theory, group identity and territoriality operated as intractability factors in the Irish experience of conflict. It will relate the Irish experience to concepts of general application, focusing on how and why two states came into existence on the Island, the later Northern Ireland troubles and the Irish peace process. The Module will examine the contemporary and historical background of the conflict in Ireland to find a context and model for the road to peace in Ireland. It will include investigation of the impact of grassroots community peace initiatives and how local events and situations are affected, positively and negatively by international factors.
1 Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/edward-m-kennedy-institute
Kennedy Institute Peace and Conflict Studies Module- Summer School Consideration will be given to the etiology1and dynamics of a sustainable peace process.
Module Objectives
1. To understand the nature and impact of conflict in society with special reference to the Irish situation 2. To acquire a thorough understanding of peace and conflict in order to be able to critically examine, assess and analyze the origin, dynamics and resolution of armed conflicts. 3. To foster critical understanding and student collaboration in studying the nature of conflict through the prism of the Irish conflict and the peace process in Ireland and its impact locally, nationally and internationally. 4. To encourage students to work effectively individually and in groups through discovering new subject matter. 5. To explore the components of historical, political and sociological division which sustain conflict in a divided society, such as Ireland 6. To explore through a designated case-study field trip how violent conflict can be made amenable to a dynamic peace process. 7. More generally, to build communication and conflict resolution awareness and skills, facilitating the better understanding and management of conflict in society.
Learning Outcomes
To successfully complete this Module, students must hand in homework assignments by their due dates, attend classes regularly, and participate actively in class activities. Students must demonstrate the following competencies:
• An ability to reflect cogently upon the peculiar dynamics of the historical, political and sociological nature of the Irish Conflict
• A competence and ability to explore and articulate conflict management perspectives generally with reference to the Irish case-study.
• A capacity and willingness to meaningfully self-reflect and articulate ways in which conflict engagement approaches enhance and/or limit effectiveness in managing conflict.
• An ability to successfully prepare for and apply conflict management evaluations to the “real life” situation.
1 The investigation or attribution of the cause or reason for something, often expressed in terms of historical or mythical explanation. 2 Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/edward-m-kennedy-institute
Kennedy Institute Peace and Conflict Studies Module- Summer School
Module Requirements
• Actively participate in and contribute to class discussion and group activities.
• Read the assigned materials and be prepared to demonstrate the application of the theories, terms, and processes contained in the readings.
• Submit presentations and papers on time and in the required format.
• Attend class regularly, arrive on time and stay until the end of the class.
Method of Evaluation
• 40% on written classwork and class participation (includes various short written and oral assignments and quizzes together with experiential exercises to be assigned in class)
• 10% Group Presentation
• 10% open-book short answer test on Moodle
• 40% on the Extended Essay
The rubric of assessment will include assessment of the quality of the written work, the quality of the student’s powers of reflection, and the manner in which they are capable of reflecting constructively on the subject matter of the Module.
Students will prepare a 500 word report on each assigned reading.
There will be individual assignments and a group presentation on a chosen aspect of the Irish conflict, to be delivered in written and oral forms.
This short answer test on Moodle will have questions designed to examine the knowledge gained during the module. It will be an open-book test at the termination of the Module to be completed by all students at the same time on Moodle over the internet.
Finally, each student will select a particular subject of interest to explore in greater detail as an extended essay. This should be influenced by the subject matter discussed in class. This final essay will be 2,000 words in total and may include original research. The main purpose of the essay will be to act as a synoptic assessment of the student’s modular participation and to provide an opportunity for that acquired knowledge to be consolidated and articulated offering a mini-capstone of the student’s modular experience.
3 Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/edward-m-kennedy-institute
Kennedy Institute Peace and Conflict Studies Module- Summer School Basic Readings
Sandole, Dennis J.D. et al (2009). Handbook of Conflict Resolution. London: Routledge Webel, Charles, and Johan Galtung, eds. Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies. Routledge, 2007. Volkan (1997) on “chosen traumas”; Staub (2001) on “ideology of antagonism”; and Jowitt (2001) on the isolation fostered by “barricaded identity.” Volkan, V. (1997) ‘Chosen trauma: unresolved mourning’, in Bloodlines: From Ethnic Pride to Ethnic Terrorism. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Rubenstein, R. E. (2001) ‘Basic human needs: the next step in theory development’, International Journal of Peace Studies, 6. Johan Galtung, Cultural Violence. Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 27, No. 3. (Aug., 1990), pp. 291-305. Vamik D. Volkan, The Need to Have Enemies and Allies: A Developmental Approach, Political Psychology Vol. 6, No. 2, Special Issue 1985. Rosenberg, Sarah. "Victimhood." Beyond Intractability. Eds. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. Conflict Information Consortium, University of Colorado, Boulder 2003. Apter, David [ed.], (1997), The Legitimization of Violence. London and Geneva: Macmillan and UNRISD Crocker, Chester et al[eds.], (1999) Herding Cats. Washington DC; United States Institute of Peace Press Popiolkowski, Joseph and Nicholas J Cull [eds.], (2009), Public Diplomacy, Cultural Interventions and the Peace Process in Northern Ireland. Los Angeles: USC Center on Public Diplomacy. [email protected] www.uscpublicdiplomacy.org Tom Garvin (1996) Gill and Macmillan Ltd. 1922: the Birth of Irish Democracy. Keith Jeffery, Ireland and the Great War (Cambridge, 2000) O'Dochartaigh, N. (2005). From Civil Rights to Armalites: Belfast and the Birth of the Irish Troubles. London: Palgrave.
Cillian McGrattan and Aaron Edwards, The Northern Ireland Conflict: A Beginner's Guide (Beginners Guide (Oneworld)) (2010)
Arthur, Paul (2000), Special Relationships: Britain, Ireland and the Northern Ireland problem. Belfast: Blackstaff Press
David McKittrick and David McVea, Making Sense of the Troubles (London: Penguin) (2012)
nd Paul Arthur and Keith Jeffery, Northern Ireland since 1968 (2 ed.). Oxford: Blackwell (1996)
Timothy J. White( edit\) , Lessons from the Northern Ireland Peace Process,
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Kennedy Institute Peace and Conflict Studies Module- Summer School
Key Web Sources
CAIN Web Service - Conflict and Politics in Northern Ireland The CAIN (Conflict Archive on the Internet) Web site contains information and source material on 'the Troubles' and politics in Northern Ireland from 1968 to the present. There is also some material on society in the region. CAIN is located in the University of Ulster and is part of INCORE and ARK. www.ulster.cain.ac.uk
A BBC News Online' in-depth guide to the causes of the conflict in Northern Ireland. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/northern_ireland/understanding/
The Eire-Ireland Page, The Eire-Ireland component of the site contains links to both contemporary and historical information. www.sunsite.unc.edu/eire-ireland
Guide to Irish Politics Resources, This Web site provides pointers to a wide range of resources in the area of Irish politics: academic links (links to professional political science information), basic information (documents and other basic data), official agencies (links to a range of public sector web servers), political organizations (links to web servers of parties and other political bodies), current affairs (news, newspapers, newsgroups and discussion lists), and miscellaneous (other links of Irish interest). www.ucd.ie/~politics/irpols.html
Irish National Information Server, The Irish National Information Server (INiS) aims to provide access to information--both Irish and world-wide--that is relevant to the academic, research and educational communities in Ireland. www.hea.ie
Northern Ireland on the Internet, The site is searchable by keyword, subject, or by using a map of Northern Ireland. This is a compact, well-organized site, with useful links to Web resources on the politics, society, history, and libraries of Northern Ireland. www.kings.cam.ac.uk/dak14/ni.html
Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive (DFA) is an access resource for teachers, students, historians, and anyone who has an interest in moving images. The DFA contains over 70 hours of moving images about Northern Ireland from 1897-2000. There are items covering drama, animation, documentaries, news, newsreels, amateur and actuality film. http://www.digitalfilmarchive.net/dfa/
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Kennedy Institute Peace and Conflict Studies Module- Summer School
Video Recording clips
The Treaty 1921
Anglo Irish War 2 of 3
Anglo Irish War 3 of 3
Troubles 1966-72 1 of 7
BBC's: The Story of Ireland 5of5 Age of Nations
Extreme World - Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland: The Process of Peace - Catholic Focus
Fr Alec Reid and the Peace Process of Ireland
The Northern Ireland Peace Process and Where We Are Now
Tony Blair on Northern Ireland (11 mins) August 2010 BBC
The Late Late Show: Tony Blair on the Northern Ireland Peace Process
Hillary Clinton on the Northern Ireland peace process
Northern Ireland - The Path to Peace
1972 Bloody Sunday
Who were the Black and Tans? (Actual footage of attacks)
Corporals Wood and Howes killed by IRA 1988
The Greysteel shootings
THE MillTOWN.MASSACRE (MARCH 1988) AT MillTOWN CEMETERY.
Irish Ways (1988 Documentary about the IRA and the Troubles in Northern Ireland) (COMPLETE)
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Kennedy Institute Peace and Conflict Studies Module- Summer School
Topic
Number Topic
Topic 1 Introductions, Module description and overview, exploring student hopes and expectations
Topic 2 Concepts explaining Violent Conflict and tools for Conflict Analysis
Topic 3 Case Study 1– Explaining ‘the Troubles’ -Conflict in Ireland 1969- 1998
Topic 4 Case Study 2- Exploring Ireland’s Revolutionary Period- • Rebellion and civil war • Creation of two political entities.
Topic 5 Forgiveness & Reconciliation
Topic 6 Field Trip - Belfast
Topic 7 International Perspectives
Topic 8 Conflict Resolution
Topic 9 Lessons from the Conflict
7 Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/edward-m-kennedy-institute
Kennedy Institute Peace and Conflict Studies Module- Summer School
General Books on 'the Troubles'
Bell, J.Bowyer. (1993). The Irish Troubles: A Generation of Violence, 1967-1992. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan. Coogan, Tim Pat. (1995). The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal 1966-1996 and the Search for Peace. London: Hutchinson. Holland, Jack. (1999). Hope Against History: The Ulster Conflict. London: Coronet Lir Books.
Understanding the Irish Conflict
Bew, Paul, Gibbon, Peter, and Patterson, Henry. (2002). Northern Ireland 1921- 2001: Political Forces and Social Classes. London: Serif. Boyle, Kevin, and Hadden, Tom. (1994). Northern Ireland: The Choice. London: Penguin Books. Darby, John. (1997). Scorpions in a Bottle: Conflicting cultures in Northern Ireland. London: Minority Rights Publications. Dixon, Paul. (2001). Northern Ireland: The Politics of War and Peace. New York: Palgrave. Dunn, Seamus. (ed.). (1995). Facets of the Conflict In Northern Ireland. London: Macmillan Press Ltd. Farrell, M. (1980). Northern Ireland: the Orange State. London: Pluto Press Ltd. McGarry, John, and O'Leary, Brendan. (1995). Explaining Northern Ireland. Oxford: Blackwell. McKay, Susan. (2000). Northern Protestants: An Unsettled People. Belfast: Blackstaff Press. O Connor, Fionnuala. (1993). In Search of a State: Catholics in Northern Ireland. Belfast: Blackstaff Press. O'Leary, Brendan, and McGarry, John. (1996). The Politics of Antagonism: Understanding Northern Ireland (2nd ed.). London: Athlone Press. O'Malley, Padriag. (1990). Northern Ireland: Questions of Nuance. Belfast: The Blackstaff Press. O'Malley, Padriag. (1997). The Uncivil Wars: Ireland Today. Boston: Beacon Press. Whyte, John. (1991). Interpreting Northern Ireland. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Wright, Frank. (1992). Northern Ireland: A Comparative Analysis (2nd ed.). Dublin: Gill and Macmillan.
History of the Conflict & Peace Process
An Crann The Tree. (2000). Bear in Mind: Stories of the Troubles. Belfast: Lagan Press / An Crann. Fay, M.T., Morrissey, M., and Smyth, M. (1997). Mapping Troubles-Related Deaths in Northern Ireland 1969-1998 (2nd ed.). Belfast: INCORE, University of Ulster. Fay, M.T., Morrissey, M., and Smyth, M. (1999). Northern Ireland's Troubles: The Human Costs. London: Pluto Press. McKittrick, David., Kelters, Seamus., Feeney, Brian., and Thornton, Chris. (1999). Lost Lives: The stories of the men, women and children who died as a result of the
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Kennedy Institute Peace and Conflict Studies Module- Summer School
Northern Ireland troubles. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. Smyth, M., and Fay, M.T., (2000). Personal Accounts from Northern Ireland's Troubles: Public Conflict, Private Loss. London: Pluto Press. Sutton, Malcolm. (1994). Bear in Mind these Dead: An Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland, 1969-1993. Belfast: Beyond the Pale Publications.
The Paramilitaries and “the troubles”
Alonso, Rogelio. (2007). The IRA and Armed Struggle. London: Routledge. Bell, J.Bowyer. (1989). The Secret Army: The IRA 1916-1979. Dublin: Poolbeg. Bishop, P., and Mallie, E. (1987). The Provisional IRA. London: Corgi Books. Bolton, D. (1973). The UVF 1966-73: An Anatomy of Loyalist Rebellion. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan. Bruce, Steve. (1992). The Red Hand: Protestant Paramilitaries in Northern Ireland. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Collins, Eamonn. (1996). Killing Rage. London: Jonathan Cape. Cusack, Jim., and McDonald, Henry. (1997). The UVF. Dublin: Poolbeg. Dillon, Martin. (1989). The Shankill Butchers: a Case Study for Mass Murder. London: Hutchinson. Dillon, Martin. (1996). Twenty Five Years of Terror: The IRA's War Against the British. London: Bantam (Transworld Publishers Ltd). English, Richard. (2003). Armed Struggle: A History of the IRA. London: Macmillan. Moloney, Ed. (2002). A Secret History of the IRA. London: Penguin Books. O'Brien, Brendan. (1999). The Long War: The IRA and Sinn Fein (2nd ed.). Syracuse: Syracuse University Press. O'Brien, Brendan. (2000). Pocket History of the IRA: from 1916 onwards. Dublin: O'Brien. O'Callaghan, S. (1999). The Informer. London: Corgi Books. Patterson, Henry. (1989). The Politics of Illusion: Republicanism and Socialism in Modern Ireland. London: Hutchinson Radius. Taylor, Peter. (1997). Provos: The IRA and Sinn Fein. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Taylor, Peter. (1999). Loyalists. London: Bloomsbury. Toolis, Kevin. (1995). Rebel Hearts: Journeys within the IRA's Soul. London: Picador.
Research on specific Key Events in “The Troubles”
Anderson, Don. (1994). 14 May Days: The Inside Story of the Loyalist Strike of 1974. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan Ltd. Bell, J.Bowyer. (1996). In Dubious Battle - The Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1972-1974. Dublin: Poolbeg Press. Beresford, David. (1987). Ten Men Dead: The Story of the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike. London: Grafton. Campbell, Brian. McKeown, Laurence., and O'Hagan, Felim. (eds.). (1994). Nor Meekly Serve My Time: The H-Block Struggle of 1976-1981. Belfast: Beyond the Pale Publications. McCann, Eamonn., and Shiels, Maureen. (eds.). (1992). Bloody Sunday in Belfast: What
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Kennedy Institute Peace and Conflict Studies Module- Summer School
Really Happened. Dingle: Brandon Books. McDaniel, Denzil. (1997). Enniskillen: The Remembrance Day Bombing. Dublin: Wolfhound. Mullan, Don. (1997). Eyewitness Bloody Sunday: The Truth. Dublin: Wolfhound. Mullin, Chris. (1980). Error of Judgement: The Truth about the Birmingham Pub Bombings. Dublin: Poolbeg Press. Pringle, Peter., and Jacobson, Philip. (2000). Those are real bullets, aren't they? Bloody Sunday, Belfast, 30 January 1972. London: Fourth Estate. Purdie, B. (1990). Politics in the Streets: The Origins of the Civil Rights Movement in Northern Ireland. Belfast: Blackstaff Press.
Specialist Study Areas in relation to “the troubles”
Bryan, Dominic. (2000). Orange Parades: The Politics of Ritual, Tradition and Control. London: Pluto Press. Cairns, E. (1987). Caught in the Crossfire: Children and the Northern Ireland conflict. Belfast: Appletree Press. Ellison, Graham., and Smyth, Jim. (2000). The Crowned Harp: Policing Northern Ireland. London: Pluto Press. Jarman, N. (1997). Material Conflicts: Parades and visual displays in Northern Ireland. Oxford: Berg. McGarry, John., and O'Leary, Brendan. (1999). Policing Northern Ireland: Proposals for a New Start. Belfast: Blackstaff. Miller, D. (1994). Don't Mention the War: Northern Ireland, Propaganda and the Media. London: Pluto Press. Sales, Rosemary. (1997). Women Divided: Gender, Religion and Politics in Northern Ireland. London: Routledge. Adams, Gerry. (1995). Free Ireland: Towards a Lasting Peace (Previous ed. published as, Politics of Irish Freedom).Dingle: Brandon Books. Bell, J.Bowyer. (1990). IRA: Tactics and Targets. Dublin: Poolbeg. Bloomfield, D. (1998). Political Dialogue in Northern Ireland: the Brooke Initiative 1989-92. London: Macmillan Press. Boyd, A. (1969). Holy War in Belfast. Dublin: Anvil Books. Darby, John. (1976). Conflict in Northern Ireland: The Development of' a Polarised Community. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan. Dillon, Martin. (1991). The Dirty War, London: Arrow Books Ltd. Dillon, Martin. (1998). God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism. London: Orion. McElrath, Karen. (2000). Unsafe Haven: The United States, The IRA and Political Prisoners. London: Pluto Press. Restorick, Rita. (2000). Death of a Soldier: A mother's search for peace. Belfast: Blackstaff Press. Rolston, B. (1995). Drawing Support 2: Murals of War and Peace. Belfast: Beyond the Pale Publications.
10 Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/edward-m-kennedy-institute