Conflict and Peace in Eurasia

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This course examines the conflicts of Europe-Eurasia in a case study-based illustration of the various forms of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, reconciliation and negotiation. The causes of the conflicts and the role played by nationalism, the basic theory of conflict resolution, and basic negotiation is integrated with the context of the many variegated conflicts of this sprawling region from Bosnia to Tajikistan. There will be several guest speakers including former diplomats, peacekeepers, NGO peacebuilders, and journalists, who have been involved in these conflicts. Part of the grade will be a “shark-tank” like simulation where students learn how to create and frame a peace-building program pitch from a panel that includes professionals who have won hundreds of millions in grants from USAID and others. The region possesses a unique set of circumstances. The collapse of the Socialist states of Europe and Eurasia between 1989-1991 marked seminal shift in the international system that re-awakened longstanding ethnic and religious conflicts and generated new inter-state tensions. Moscow has exacerbated most of these conflicts in an attempt to undermine the status-quo and support its revanchist aspirations. We have thirty years of lessons learned to review and will also take stock of what may come in Ukraine and what latent or potential conflicts may disturb the region in the near future.