Just Peace: A Case Study on Ukraine

(1 Credit Hour) · Undergraduate

This course examines Christian approaches to peace and justice in the context of contemporary global conflicts, with particular focus on the challenges posed by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Through an interdisciplinary lens combining theological, historical, and ethical perspectives, students will analyze biblical teachings, Pacifism, Just War Theory, Just Peacemaking Theory, and the role of religious institutions in both conflict and peace-building. The course addresses how unresolved historical legacies contribute to current geopolitical tensions, while developing practical mechanisms for establishing and maintaining just peace through careful analysis of Scripture, Church teaching, and contemporary situations. This course will be taught by Rev. Yuriy Shchurko, a scholar from the Ukrainian Catholic University, whose visit is hosted by the Institute for Social Concerns and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies.