SYLLABUS
ISCOR 301: Conflict and Conflict Resolution, Section 3
Fall Semester 2012, San Diego State University
Thursdays, 4-6:40 pm, Arts and Letters 101
Ronald J. Bee, Instructor
Office: 4107 Adams Humanities (AH-4107)
Phone: 619-594-6944; email rbee@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours:
Tuesdays 12:30-1:30 p.m.; Thursdays 3-4 pm or by appointment
“War does not determine who is right, only who is left.”
Bertrand Russell
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more,
so that we may fear less.” Marie Curie
Background and Course Overview: ISCOR 301 will introduce you to the study of conflict and
approaches to mitigate, resolve, or manage it. The twentieth century marked the bloodiest 100
years of human history with two World Wars and many conflicts that filled graveyards and left
bitter legacies. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 did not augur well for our current
century as we engaged in a global war against terrorism, and conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq
have since cost many lives and much money. Historical hangovers from the last century in
Africa, the Middle East and Northeast Asia defy apparent solution, although glimmers of hope
arise in movements such as the Arab Spring in 2011, and various negotiations still try to prevent,
resolve or at least manage the bloodshed.
Why do we fight, and why does conflict play such an important role in human history? What
lessons can we draw from past conflicts for addressing current ones, and what approaches do we
have in our quiver to combat destructive violence? When do we have no choice but to fight?
What role does identity and diversity play in conflict—my group vs. your group, my nation vs.
yours—and when do skills such as listening, communication, tolerance and empathy help
overcome the “us vs. them” dynamic? When we negotiate or mediate, what should we do and
what should we avoid? In this class, we will read, listen, and question the range of opinions
surrounding conflict and cooperation. The premise behind this course will take you toward a
better understanding of the issues, challenges, and choices surrounding war and peacemaking.
You will also learn about American diplomatic approaches to conflict and conflict resolution.
Readings: You will read two books and selected articles placed on blackboard each week. Role
play simulations will also occur periodically to drive home certain points and considerations.
Careful study of these materials and our discussions in class will prepare you for the midterm, a
3-page policy memo on a current international conflict, and final exam that will, along with your
mandatory attendance, measure your performance in this class. The required texts:
1. William Ury, The Third Side: Why We Fight and How We Can Stop, Penguin, 2000.
2. Richard Solomon and Nigel Quinney, American Negotiating Behavior, U.S. Institute of
Peace, 2010.
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Course Requirements and Grading:
1. Mandatory Attendance/Participation (10% of your grade) -- If you miss class more
than twice during the semester, your letter grade will drop by one full grade for each
lecture you miss. Participation means actively participating in the class discussion, not
just occupying a chair and it means staying for the whole class. When sick or otherwise
incapacitated, you will require proof of illness or unusual circumstances, and preferably
before you miss class. We will discuss current affairs and issues in conflict and
cooperation at the beginning of each class—and by following current events you will
have the opportunity to express your opinions in class.
2. Midterm (25% of your grade) – The midterm will include multiple choice questions
and an essay on the material covered up to that point. October 4, 2012.
3. 3-Page Policy Memo on Conflict Resolution Topic (25% of your grade) – For more
on the memo, see below. Due Date: November 1, 2012.
4. Final Exam (40% of your grade), covering readings and lectures, and the entire course.
The final will include multiple choice and essays. Date: December 13, 2012 7-9 p.m.
To succeed, you must master the readings from the assigned books and articles on blackboard
(www.blackboard.sdsu.edu ), think critically and participate in class, learn to express your views
effectively on a topic regarding conflict and conflict resolution in a policy memo format, and do
well on the midterm and final exams (multiple choice and essay format).
Grading: 100 points possible: A, 91-100 points; A-, 89-90 points; B+, 86-88 points; B, 81-85
points; B-,79-80 points; C+, 76-78 points; C, 71-75 points, C-, 69-70 points; D+, 66-68 points;
D, 61-65 points, D-, 59-61 points; F, 58 or less points.
Do not plagiarize! Plagiarism of any type, shape, or form will cause you real world of global
hurt. Plagiarism is defined as submitting someone else’s work without proper citation; buying a
paper from a paper-mill, copying sentences, phrases, paragraphs, or idea’s from someone else’s
work published or unpublished online or in print without giving the original author credit;
piecing together phrases, ideas, and sentences from a variety of sources to write an essay; and
submitting your own paper in more than one course. For information on plagiarism, and its
consequences, including failing an assignment, receiving a lower grade, failing a course, or
expulsion, see: http://infotutor.sdsu.edu/plagiarism.
The Policy Memo: As a deputy to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, you must prepare a 3-page
position paper (with a 4th page for your sources/endnotes) on a pressing U.S. foreign policy issue
relating directly to an international conflict, and arguing a way to resolve it. . You should write
the memo in clear, persuasive, and succinct prose, have a title that indicates your view, adopt a
school of thought as your approach, acknowledge and analyze at least two other approaches, and
recommend a course of action. Your memo should have four separate but related sections
spelled out and organized like this: I. Background and Context of the problem (How did we
get here?); II. Stakes for American foreign policy (Why should we care, economically,
politically, and militarily?); III. Options for resolving the problem or issue (What should we do?
You must provide at least three different options or schools of thought, giving the pluses and
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minuses of each); and IV. Your specific Recommendation, based on your analysis delivered in
sections I-III (What do you think we should do, and why?). What you argue will remain less
important that how you argue it. Pick something you care about; your passions always argue
more convincingly than do your platitudes. Do not write a book report! A policy memo tries to
persuade the reader to choose between diverse options, and takes a stand on the best choice.
Writing actively, cutting the clutter, and getting to the point will help you achieve your 3-page
memo You will also need to have a title that indicates your point of view; please do not make
your title, “policy memo”!
COURSE THEMES, READINGS, ASSIGNMENTS, EXAMS
August 30: Course Overview
Identity, Diversity, and Conflict
September 6: Introduction to Conflict: A Given in Human History?
Readings: 1. Bill Ury, The Third Side, Intro.,“Are We Doomed to Fight?” Chapter 1,
“The Third Side,” pp xv-25; and Chapter 2: The First 99% of Human History,” pp. 28-56; 2.
Richard Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior, forward, preface, and introduction, pp ix-15;
3. Introduction to Conflict (Blackboard Document #1) .
September 13: American Negotiating Styles, W(h)ither Human Cooperation?
Reading: 1. Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 2, “The Four Faceted
Negotiator,” pp. 19-45; 2. Nevada District Export Council, “How Americans negotiate and
Why” (Blackboard Document #2; also here: http://www.nevadadec.com/reps_negotiate.html;
3.Ury, The Third Side, Chapter 3, “The Last 1%”, pp. 57-80.
Identity, Conflict, and Negotiation
September 20: Americans at the Bargaining Table, From Win-Lose to Win-Win
Readings: 1. Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 3, “At the Bargaining
Table,” pp. 47-92; 2. Cross Cultural Negotiation please access it here:
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural-services/articles/cross-cultural-negotiation.html); 3.
Ury, The Third Side, Chapter 4, “The Recurrence” pp. 81-109;
September 27: Bargaining Away from the Table, Exercise in Track II Diplomacy
Readings: 1. Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 4, “Bargaining Away from the
Table,” pp. 93-122. 2. Power Point, “Track Two Diplomacy” 4. (Document #3 on blackboard)
October 4: Midterm Exam
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Perspectives on Overcoming US vs. Them: Past and Present
October 11: Conflict Prevention, and Internal Conflict Resolution between Americans
Readings: 1. Ury, The Third Side, Chapter 5, “Prevent: Provider, Teacher, BridgeBuilder,” pp 114- 139. 2. U.S. Institute of Peace, Peace Brief, “Conflict Prevention: Principles,
Policy and Practice,” please access at: http://www.usip.org/files/resources/pb47.pdf ; 3.
Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 5, “Americans negotiating with Americans,”
pp. 123-156.
October 18: Conflict Resolution, and U.S. Presidents and Their Negotiators
Reading: 1. Ury, The Third Side, Chapter 6, “Resolve” pp. 140-168; 2. Solomon,
American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 6, “American Presidents and Their Negotiators,” pp.
159-186.
October 25: Conflict Containment, and Bilateral, Regional and Global Forums
Reading: 1. Ury, The Third Side, Chapter 7, “Contain,” pp. 169-196; 2. Solomon,
American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 7, “Different Forums, Different Styles,” pp. 189-199.
November 1: Economic and Political Negotiations
Reading: Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 8, “Negotiating Trade: A
Bitter Experience for Japanese Negotiators,” pp. 201-209; 2. Solomon, American Negotiating
Behavior, Chapter 10, “Negotiating within Washington”, pp. 221-235.
POLICY MEMO DUE!
November 8: Security Negotiations, Can We Negotiate with Rogue States?
Reading: 1. Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 9, “Negotiating Security:
The Pushy Superpower,” pp. 211-220; 2. Ronald J. Bee, “Sanctions and Nonproliferation,”
Foreign Policy Association,” Great Decisions, January 2011 (Blackboard Document #4); 2.
Ronald J. Bee, “7 Years after 9/11 A New Nuclear Bargain” Union Tribune Op-ed, 2008
(Blackboard Document #5).
November 15: Negotiating with Rivals and Friends
Reading: 1. Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 11, “Negotiating as a
Rival: A Russian Perspective”, pp. 237-250.; 2. Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior,
Chapter 12, “Negotiating Bilaterally: India’s Evolving Experience with the United States,” pp.
251-269.
November 22: Thanksgiving Holiday – No Class!
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November 29: Negotiating Multilaterally, and with Savoir Faire….
Reading: 1. Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 13, “The Advantages and
Disadvantages of the U.S. Approach,” pp. 271-277; 2. Solomon, American Negotiating
Behavior, Chapter 14, “Negotiating with Savoir Faire: Twelve Rules for Negotiating with the
United States”, pp 279-89.
December 6: Summing Up: The Third Side and American Negotiating Behavior
Reading: 1. Ury, The Third Side, Conclusion, “It’s Our Choice” pp. 197-206; 2.
Solomon, American Negotiating Behavior, Chapter 15, “Conclusion: Negotiating in a
Transforming World,” pp. 293-313.
December 13: Final Exam 7 pm-9 pm
GODSPEED AND GOOD LUCK!
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