Introductory description

This module provides students with the theoretical and conceptual tools to analyse the root causes of, and the motivations for, violence in eastern Africa. Students will explore the different theoretical understandings of conflict and evaluate their applicability to a range of specific cases of violence. The module also provides students with an understanding of the various mechanisms of transitional justice and reconciliation efforts implemented in the region and they will critically assess the contribution of these efforts to current and future peace and stability. The specific cases covered include Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Kenya.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Term 1:

1. Understanding Ethnicity and Violence
2. Understanding Conflict: Grand narratives and local struggles
3. Northern Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army
4. Rwanda: Genocide and its causes
5. Eastern Congo: From Genocide to continental war?
6. Reading week
7. Sudan: Civil war, oil and secession
8. Kenya I: Multi-party elections and political violence 1992-1997
9. Kenya II: Multi-party elections and political violence 2007-2023
10. Violence in comparative perspective
    Term 2:
11. Transitional Justice and Reconciliation: Tools and Theories
12. Rwanda I: The international criminal tribunal
13. Rwanda II: Justice 'on the grass' and the case of gacaca
14. Rwanda III: The politics of remembering and forgetting
15. The ICC in Africa
16. Reading week
17. Traditional Justice Mechanisms: Ritual and mato oput in Northern Uganda
18. Truth commissions in comparative perspective
19. Constitutional Reform
20. From Transitional to Transformative Justice?

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Understand and apply different theories of mass violence (including social, cultural, materialist and instrumental approaches) to different empirical case studies
• Consider and explain motivations of violence, the relevance of political systems and political instrumentalism, and the significance of international dimensions (including intervention) in different contexts
• Critically assess different reconciliation efforts and analyse their contribution to current and future peace and stability
• Compare the causes of violence and the strengths and weaknesses of different reconciliation efforts in different contexts
• Use a range of sources, including secondary literature, newspaper articles, and government and non-government reports

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

TBC

Transferable skills

The module provides students with opportunities to acquire or develop the following key skills:

Synthesis of different materials
Critical analysis
Oral presentation
Writing