COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
COURSE SYLLABUS - UNDERGRADUATE
Index Number: POJS 6200-01
Course Title: Theories of Conflict Resolution
Professor: Tiffany L. Bohm, Ph.D., email:
Credit Hours: 3
Semester: Fall 2015
Meeting Time: 4:30-7:20 PM Tuesday
Catalog Description: Investigates the causes of conflict in its many societal expressions and
considers the various models of conflict resolution. Particular attention is given to community,
ethnic, organizational, labor and international forms of conflict.
Rationale: Conflict is a constant in our world. It occurs at every level of human existence. In
many cases it is essential for survival. In others it leads only to destruction and societal harm.
This course will approach the study of conflict and its resolution from the broadest and most
integrative level possible. In analyzing the dynamics of conflict and its possible resolution, we
will consider the expression of conflict from the personal, inter-personal, organizational, societal
and international levels of analysis. In so doing so, we will search for causal commonalities of
conflict as well as the traditional and non-traditional methods of managing and resolving conflict.
Expected Student Outcomes:
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Examine fundamentals of conflict in the global environment through a study of socialscientific research and theory related to human nature
Describe term and concepts related to the study of conflict and peace (e.g. Escalation,
Destructive Conflict, Resolution)
Evaluate cultural influences such as race, gender, power and their relation to assumptions
of peace, conflict and mediation
Apply practical strategies to help reduce conflict in personal affairs and relationships
Engage in discussion of course material in a supportive, professional and respectful
classroom environment
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Instructional Modality: This course will include a combination of lectures, discussions, and
student presentations to further develop and achieve the expected outcomes.
Evaluation: This class will be conducted as a seminar with a combination of lecture, student
presentation and group discussion. Each student is required to: (1) complete conflict journals,
throughout the semester where you record conflicts that occur in your daily activities (2) take a
mid-term exam, (3) in-class participation and a (4) final exam. It is expected that all students will
have completed the assigned reading before class so that we may all share in each other’s brilliance
as we discuss the literature.
Students should complete the readings from the required texts and the journal articles (posted on
Blackboard), before the class session when they will be considered. This is a graduate level course
and includes additional reading with a focus on synthesizing ideas and applying concepts to
demonstrate comprehension of the material covered.
Critical Engagement Journal:
For each journal entry, you will select one of the options provided to you. The goal of this
assignment is for you to illustrate mastery of course material by describing and applying course
content. A secondary goal is to encourage recognition of conflict in your day to day activities and
begin to apply the strategies we discuss in class for a positive outcome. Journals will be evaluated
based on structure and content. You will need to link an event to conflict and explain how a
resolution was reached using information from the course to support or elaborate on the event. To
be eligible for full credit, you must have five (5) unique events in your journal. Worth 75 points
Mid-term Exam:
The mid-term exam will be in a take-home format and will cover the material up to that point in the
course. The take-home exam will consist of two to three questions and you will select one to
answer. Your answer will be in essay format, two to three pages in length with a bibliography of
references. Worth 100 points
In-Class Participation:
For undergraduate students, part of your assessment will focus on your knowledge of the
information and your ability to analyze and apply in class discussions. In order for you to be
successful with this assignment, you will need to comprehend the main ideas presented in the
readings and be able to critique or challenge these ideas. Your participation will be beneficial to the
graduate students who are presenting for the week. Worth 25 points
Final Exam:
Your final exam will be in a similar format to your mid-term exam. This will be discussed in
greater length near the end of the semester. Worth 100 points
Ethical Behavior:
Each student is expected to follow the University’s requirements as published in the University
Catalog for Academic Honesty (most recent edition) and the University Policy on Academic
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Honesty which appears in the Student Handbook. Students are expected to fulfill academic
requirements in an ethical and honest manner. This expectation pertains to the following elements:
use and acknowledgement of the ideas and work of others, submission of work to fulfill course
requirements, sharing of work with other students, and appropriate behavior during examinations. A
violation of this policy will result in the student earning an “F” for the particular assignment.
Required Texts:
Fisher, Roger and William Ury. 2011. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving In,
New York: Penguin Books. ISBN-10: 0143118757
*Referred to as URY on the syllabus
Mayer, Bernard. 2000. The Dynamics of Conflict Resolution: A Practitioner’s Guide. San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN-10: 078795019X.
*Referred to as MAYER on the syllabus
All additional readings (journal articles or book chapters) will be provided to you via Blackboard.
Please be sure you have access to the online classroom to download these items. I will not be
printing hard copies for you.
Disability Statement:
GSU is committed to providing all students equal access to all university programs and facilities.
Students who have a documented physical, psychological, or learning disability and need academic
accommodations must register with Access Services for Students with Disabilities (ASSD). Please
contact the Coordinator of ASSD in Room B1201 in person; by e-mail, assd@govst.edu; or by
calling 708.235.3968. If you are already registered, please contact your instructor privately
regarding your academic accommodations.
Tentative Class Schedule
The following schedule is flexible and will be changed if class needs warrant the change. You
should read the assigned readings before the class when they will be discussed. Items with *
are optional reading for undergraduate students, but highly recommended.
Course Schedule:
25 Aug
Syllabus Review; Defining Peace and Conflict
1 Sep
Transforming Conflict
Read: URY introduction and chapter 1
8 Sep
Theoretical Perspectives on Peace & Conflict (Prof Bohm Presentation)
3
Read: URY Chapter 2
*Katz, Neil H. 1989. “Conflict resolution and peace studies.” Annals of the
American Academy of Political and Social Science 504:14-21. (Blackboard)
15 Sep
Power & Privilege
Read: MAYER Chapter 3 “Power and Conflict”
Selection by C. Wright Mills (Blackboard)
*Johnson, Allan. 2010. “Privilege, Power, Difference and Us,” in Privilege: A
Reader, Eds. Michael S. Kimmel and Abby L. Berber. Westview Press: Boulder,
Colorado.
(Blackboard)
1st Presentation ______________________
22 Sep
Racism, Gender, Identity
Read: MAYER Chapter 4 “Culture and Conflict”
Thompson, Becky. 2010. “Subverting Racism from Within: Linking White Identity
to Activism,” Eds. Michael S. Kimmel and Abby L. Berber. Westview Press:
Boulder, Colorado. (Blackboard)
*Anderson, Eric. 2008. “"I Used to Think Women Were Weak": Orthodox
Masculinity, Gender Segregation, and Sport” Sociological Forum 23 (2): 257-280.
(Blackboard)
2nd Presentation __________________________
29 Sep
Violence in Societies
Read: URY Chapters 3-5
Short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDa5r_gI87M (part 1) and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJQCrPV6MPU (part 2): Witness: Safe haven
and the betrayal of Srebrenica. September 4, 2007.
6 Oct
Economic Divisions
Read: MAYER Chapter 7 “Communication”
*Sen, Amartya Kumar. 1996. Inequality Reexamined. Clarendon Press. (Selected
readings will be posted on Blackboard)
3rd Presentation _____________________________
13 Oct
Economic Divisions (continued)
Read: URY Chapters 6-8
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Sawhill, Isabel V. and Quentin Karpilow. 2015. “How Much Could We Improve
Children’s Life Chances by Intervening Early and Often?” in Brief #54 from the
Center on Children and Families at Brookings. (Blackboard)
4th Presentation _____________________________
20 Oct
Terrorism
Read: MAYER Chapter 9 “Working with Impasse”
*Moghaddam, Fathali M. “The Staircase to Terrorism: A Psychological
Exploration.” Georgetown University Press. (Blackboard)
*Additional Readings will be assigned*
27 Oct
Preventing Conflict & Supporting Non-Violence
Read: MAYER Chapter 10 “Mediation,” Chapter 11 “Other Approaches to
Intervention”
Gandhi, Mohandas. 1958. “Ahimsa, or the Way of Nonviolence,” first published by
UNESCO. (Blackboard)
*Lipsitz, Lewis, and Herbert M. Kritzer. 1975. “Unconventional approaches to
conflict resolution: Erikson and Sharp on nonviolence.” Journal of Conflict
Resolution 19(4):713- 733. (Blackboard)
5th Presentation __________________________________
3 Nov
Critical Engagement Activity (everyone must attend)
10 Nov
What Do We Do When Violence Breaks Out?
Read:
Huntington, Samuel P. 1993. “The Clash of Civilizations?” Foreign Affairs
72(3):22-49.
*Silver, Eric. 2006. “Understanding the relationship between mental disorder and
violence: The need for a criminological perspective.” Law and Human Behavior
30(6):685-706. (Blackboard)
*LeBlanc, and Barling. 2004. “Workplace aggression.” Current Directions in
Psychological Science 13(1):9-12.
17 Nov
Interpersonal Conflict
Read:
Pulliam, H. Ronald. 1982. “A social learning model of conflict and cooperation in
human societies.” Human Ecology 10(3):353-363.
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*Gates, Scott. 2002. “Recruitment and allegiance: The microfoundations of
rebellion.” Journal of Conflict Resolution 46(1):111-130.
24 Nov
Peace and Justice
Read:
Reading on Eleanor Roosevelt (Blackboard)
*Kaufman, Stuart J. 2006. “Escaping the symbolic politics trap: Reconciliation
initiatives and conflict resolution in ethnic wars.” Journal of Peace Research
43(2):201-218.
*Dzur, Albert W. 2003. “Civic implications of restorative justice theory: Citizen
participation and criminal justice policy.” Policy Sciences 36(3/4):279-306.
1 Dec
What Can We Do?
Read: URY Conclusion; MAYER 12 “Why We Intervene in Conflict”
Bell, Christine. 2006. “Peace agreements: Their nature and legal status.” The
American Journal of International Law 100(2):373-412. (Blackboard)
*Barak, Oren. 2005. “The failure of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, 19932000.” Journal of Peace Research 42(6):719-736. (Blackboard)
Final Exam is due ______________________________________
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