SYLLABUS
ISCOR 301: Conflict and Conflict Resolution, Section 3
Spring Semester 2014, San Diego State University
Wednesdays, 4-6:40 pm, Storm Hall 127
Ronald J. Bee, Instructor
Office: 223-A Storm Hall (SH-223-A)
Phone: 619-594-6944; email rbee@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays 3:00-4:00 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,
and review some salient case studies along the way.
If you take this class as a general education requirement, your goals will also include:
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Goal 1: Explore and recognize basic terms, concepts, and domains of the social and
behavioral sciences.
Goal 2: Comprehend diverse theories and methods of the social and behavioral sciences.
Goal 3: Identify human behavioral patterns across space and time and discuss their
interrelatedness and distinctiveness.
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Goal 4: Enhance understanding of the social world through the application of conceptual
frameworks from the social and behavioral sciences to first-hand engagement with
contemporary issues.
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,
two policy memos 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. Charles Hauss, International Conflict Resolution, Second Edition, Continuum, 2010.
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 (30% of your grade) – The midterm will include multiple choice questions
and an essay on the material covered up to that point. March 5, 2014.
3. Two Policy Memos, one 3-Page and a separate 2-page memo on Conflict Resolution
Topic (15% each, or 30% of your grade) – For more on the memos, see below. Due
Dates: First Memo, February 23, 2014, Second Memo April 9, 2014.
4. Final Exam (30% of your grade), covering readings and lectures, and the entire course.
The final will include multiple choice and essays. May 14, 2014 4-6 p.m.
To succeed, you must show up, master the readings from the assigned books and articles on
blackboard (www.blackboard.sdsu.edu ), think critically and participate in class (not just
occupy a chair), learn to express your views effectively on a foreign policy topic in a policy
memo format, and do well on the midterm and final exams (multiple choice and essay format).
Each class will begin with a discussion of current events in American foreign relations. This
means you should read a newspaper or magazine of your choice, track a news website of your
choice, and/or pay attention to TV and radio news shows that discuss current issues. Attendance
remains key to your success since lectures will indicate specific trends in readings that will
appear on exams, and participation means your active presence in class.
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.
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Do not plagiarize! Plagiarism of any type, shape, or form will cause you real world of global
hurt. We define plagiarism as submitting someone else’s work without proper citation; buying a
paper from a paper-mill, copying sentences, phrases, paragraphs, or ideas from someone else’s
work whether published, 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.
Students with Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need
accommodations for this class, you must contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473.
To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability
Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations do not happen retroactively, and
that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an
accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Thank you for your cooperation.
The Policy Memos: As a deputy to Secretary of State John Kerry, you must first prepare a 3page 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. In a second
memo, on a separate topic, you must prepare a 2-page position paper (with a 3rd page for your
sources/endnotes). You should write your memos in clear, persuasive, and succinct prose, have
a title that indicates your view, adopt a school of thought or option as your approach,
acknowledge and analyze at least two other approaches, and recommend a course of action. Your
sources should include government sources (state.gov, whitehouse.gov, the Congressional
Research Service), independent journals (like Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy), and articles
(online or print) pertinent to your topic.
Your memos should have four separate but related sections spelled out and organized exactly
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 minuses of each approach); 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 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. Get to the point and say what you mean!
An effective policy memo persuades the reader to choose your recommended option between
diverse options. Please also refer to sample memos for this course on blackboard.sdsu.edu.
For tips on active writing, refer to course documents on blackboard: “Nine Easy Steps to Longer
Sentences,” Active vs. Passive Voice video, and USCIS Plain Language: Active Voice video.
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COURSE THEMES, READINGS, ASSIGNMENTS, EXAMS
January 22: Course Overview
Identity, Diversity, and Conflict
January 29: 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. Charles Hauss, International Conflict Resolution, Prologue and Chapter 1, “Passion,
Argument, Evidence, Insight,” pp. 1-10; 3. Introduction to Conflict (Blackboard
Document #1).
February 5: Understanding Conflict and Negotiating Styles
Readings: 1. Hauss, Chapter 2 “Understanding Conflict,” pp. 11-20; 2. Nevada District
Export Council, “How Americans Negotiate and Why” (Blackboard Document #2);
3.Ury, The Third Side, Chapter 3, “The Last 1%”, pp. 57-80.
February 12: International Conflict Resolution Theory and Practice
Readings: 1. Hauss, Chapter 3, “The Role of Theory,” pp. 23-27, and Chapter 4,
“International Relations Theory and Conflict Resolution,” pp. 28-51; 2. Mind Tools,
“Conflict Resolution: Resolving Conflict Rationally and Effectively” (Blackboard
Document #3). Access it here: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_81.htm
Identity, Conflict, and Negotiation
February 19: Cross-Cultural Negotiation
Readings: 1 “Cross Cultural Negotiation,” please access it here:
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural-services/articles/cross-cultural-negotiation.html
(Blackboard Document #4); 2. Ury, The Third Side, Chapter 4, “The Recurrence” pp. 81109;
February 26: Exercise in Track II Diplomacy
Reading: 1. Power Point, “Track Two Diplomacy” (Blackboard Document #5)
FIRST POLICY MEMO DUE!
March 5: Midterm Exam
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Perspectives and Case Studies on Overcoming US vs. Them: Past and Present
March 12: Conflict Prevention
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,” Access at: http://www.usip.org/files/resources/pb47.pdf (Blackboard
Document #6);
March 19: Conflict Resolution, Case Study: South Africa
Readings: 1. Ury, The Third Side, Chapter 6, “Resolve” pp. 140-168; 2. Hauss,
Chapter 5, “South Africa,” pp. 55-77.
March 26: Conflict Containment, Case Study: Israel and the Palestinians
Readings: 1. Ury, The Third Side, Chapter 7, “Contain,” pp. 169-196; 2. Hauss, Chapter
7, “Israel and the Palestinians,” pp. 104-133.
April 2: SPRING BREAK: CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND MARGARITAS (NO
CLASS)
April 9: Case Study: Northern Ireland
Reading: Hauss, Chapter 6, “Northern Ireland,” pp. 78-103. .
SECOND POLICY MEMO DUE!
April 16: Case Studies: The Global War on Terrorism and Iraq
Readings: Hauss, Chapter 8, “The Global War on Terrorism,” pp. 134-150; and Chapter
9, “Iraq,” pp. 151-180.
April 23: Case Study: Darfur
Reading: Hauss, Chapter 10, “Darfur,” pp. 181-198.
April 30: Case Study: Nuclear Terrorism
Reading: “Seven Years after 9/11: A New Nuclear Bargain” (Blackboard Document 7)
December 5: Summing Up: The Third Side and Conflict Resolution
Readings: 1. Hauss, Chapter 11, “Intellectual Conclusions,” and Chapter 12, “Political
Conclusions,’ pp. 201-222; 2. Ury, The Third Side, Conclusion, “It’s Our Choice” pp. 197-206.
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May 14: Final Examination, 4-6pm.
GODSPEED AND GOOD LUCK!
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