Introduction to Peacebuilding

This course aims to provide students with a solid foundation in the theories and practices of contemporary peacebuilding operations, paying attention to the role of external actors, namely international organizations, bilateral donors and non-governmental organizations. Students will gain an understanding of the complex and multifaceted dimensions of peacebuilding, including transitional justice, liberal-democratic statebuilding, stabilization operations, economic restructuring and gender reforms. We will explore these diverse and intersecting themes as they relate to the broader goal of supporting lasting peace and rebuilding war-affected states and societies in meaningful and effective ways. This course pays special attention to the current policy initiatives and operational challenges in Afghanistan, examining the prospects for peace after over more than a decade of international interventions. Without doubt, international peacebuilding endeavors are complicated, costly and fraught with structural limitations and shortcomings. Students will gain familiarity with these challenges and will learn about the various approaches used by the international community to monitor and evaluate the impact of peace processes. Finally, this course concludes with critical theoretical perspectives on liberal peacebuilding and highlights alternative frameworks proposed by scholars to help mitigate future failures and advance successes.