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BCA SIGNATURE COURSE

Understanding Conflict: The Irish Experience An interdisciplinary, problem-oriented Peace and Conflict Studies module

Syllabus– Fall 2015, Taught on Location

BCA SIGNATURE COURSE, Syllabus –Spring 2015

Resident Director, Dr Kieran Doyle

Accreditation of the course- BCA offer 3 full course credits.

Course Description

This is an interdisciplinary, problem-oriented Peace and Conflict Studies module.

It addresses the problem of how humans manage conflict, in order to instill an

understanding of the nature and impact of conflict in society. The Module will use

the prism of the long and supposedly intractable conflict in Ireland as the basis and

primary case study to elucidate the issues involved. This approach will maximize

the benefit of the students experience of being on the ground in Ireland to give the

material a unique authenticity, immediacy and relevance.

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The Course unites the emphasis on conflict as a process of social interaction with

practical examples drawn from Irish experience. By looking at the Irish conflict

from historical, political, sociological and international perspectives, students will

explore how it is possible to move from a situation of violent conflict towards a

transformative peace.

The overall matrix and rubric of the module entails a period of field-work in the

divided society of Belfast, backed by interactive contextual lectures, workshops and

seminars, field visits and extensive supervised independent study at Maynooth

University, during the entire 15 week period of the taught semester. It will take

advantage of being on the ground in Ireland both in the North (Belfast) the South

(Maynooth) to analyze the experience of “the troubles” and the Irish peace process.

The Module will examine the contemporary and historical background of the

Conflict to find a context for the road to peace in Ireland.

It will include investigation of the impact of grassroots community peace and how

local events and situations are affected, positively and negatively by international

factors. Consideration will be given to the etiology1 and dynamics of a sustainable

peace process.

Course Objectives

1. To understand the nature and impact of conflict in society with special reference

to the Irish situation

2. To acquire a thorough understanding of peace and conflict in order to be able

to critically examine, assess and analyze the origin, dynamics and resolution of

armed conflicts.

3. To foster critical understanding and student collaboration in studying the

nature of conflict through the prism of the Irish conflict and the peace process

in Ireland and its impact locally, nationally and internationally.

4. To encourage students to work effectively individually and in groups through

discovering new subject matter.

5. To explore the components of historical, political and sociological division

which sustain conflict in a divided society such as Ireland

6. To explore the city of Belfast as a case-study of how violent conflict can be

made amenable to a dynamic peace process.

7. More generally, to build communication and conflict resolution awareness

and skills facilitating the better understanding and management of conflict in

1 The investigation or attribution of the cause or reason for something, often expressed in terms of historical or mythical explanation.

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society.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this course, you must hand in homework assignments by

their due dates, attend classes regularly, and participate actively in class activities.

You must also demonstrate these competencies:

1) An ability to reflect cogently upon the peculiar dynamics of the

historical, political and sociological nature of the Irish Conflict

2) A competence and ability to explore and articulate conflict management

perspectives generally with reference to the Irish case-study.

3) A capacity and willingness to meaningfully self-reflect and articulate ways

in which conflict engagement approaches enhance and/or limit

effectiveness in managing conflict.

4) An ability to successfully prepare for and apply conflict

management evaluations to the “real life” situation such as the

specific divided society in Belfast.

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Course Requirements

1) Actively participate in and contribute to class discussion and group

activities.

2) Read the assigned materials and be prepared to demonstrate the application

of the theories, terms, and processes contained in the readings.

3) Submit presentations and papers on time and in the required format.

4) Attend class regularly, arrive on time and stay until the end of the class.

Method of Evaluation

40% on written classwork and class participation (includes various short

written and oral assignments and quizzes together with experiential exercises

to be assigned in class)

10% Group Presentation

50% on the Extended Essay

Students will prepare a 500 word report on each assigned reading. There will be

several class assignments and a group presentation. (After group consultation and

collaboration, there will be a short- approx. 5 minute verbal presentation per

student) on a chosen aspect of the Irish conflict. Altogether this will constitute

approximately 15 assignment reports, each of roughly 500 words, and some of

which will be delivered in written and verbal forms. The marks for written reports

and group presentation will be allocated primarily on quality of the completed

work, but the final grade in this section for each student will have a small

weighting based on the instructor’s overall impression of the student’s depth of

participation, including verbal in-put in class and attendance.

It is therefore in your best interests to make a positive contribution to all aspects of

the module, including class discussion. Details of the individual reports required

will be circulated prior to the fieldwork.

Finally, each student will select a particular subject of interest to explore in greater

detail as an extended essay. This should be influenced by the subject matter

discussed in class.

This final essay will be 3,000 words in total and may include original research,

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interviews, documentary analysis, film, pictorial and other material in diverse

mediums. Past essays have been prepared on such subjects as a regular diary of

observation on one’s experience of Belfast as a conflictual city, analysis of

political murals, interviews of ex-prisoners, comparison of local newspaper

coverage of political events, analysis of the web-sites of local politicians etc. Final

choice of subject will be approved by the tutor.

The main purpose of the essay will be to act as a synoptic assessment of the

student’s modular participation and to provide an opportunity for that acquired

knowledge to be consolidated and articulated. It will be a final summation and

reflection upon the field-work experience and the individual reports and group

presentations, and offering a mini-capstone of the student’s modular experience.

The rubric of assessment will therefore include assessment of the quality of the

written work, the quality of the student’s powers of reflection, and the manner in

which they have used the Belfast experience to reflect constructively on the subject

matter of the module. Students will have had an opportunity to read widely as part

of this reflection upon field-work observation, and to finally present this essay as a

concluding summation, based on their chosen format, use of personally selected

materials and the insights the overall Belfast experience have provided.

Combined with the field-work in Belfast, this exercise should constitute a

conclusion to the reflective report writing and an opportunity for students to

demonstrate the deep learning we hope they will acquire by participation in the

module.

Regular enrichment hand-out material and assignment instructions will be

provided for the students in situ so that they can be considered when the students

undertake the individual reporting tasks.

Basic Readings

Webel, Charles, and Johan Galtung, eds. Handbook of peace and conflict studies.

Routledge, 2007.

Tom Garvin (1996) Gill and Macmillan Ltd. 1922: the Birth of Irish Democracy

Keith Jeffery, Ireland and the Great War (Cambridge, 2000)

O'Dochartaigh, N. (2005). From Civil Rights to Armalites: Belfast and the Birth of

the Irish Troubles. London: Palgrave.

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The Northern Ireland Conflict: A Beginner's Guide (Beginners Guide (Oneworld))

by Cillian McGrattan and Aaron Edwards (2010)

McCann, Eamonn. (1993). War and an Irish Town (3rd ed.). London: Pluto.

Arthur, Paul (2000), Special Relationships: Britain, Ireland and the Northern

Ireland problem. Belfast: Blackstaff Press

Making Sense of the Troubles (London: Penguin) by David McKittrick and David

McVea (2012)

Northern Ireland since 1968 (2nd

ed.). Oxford: Blackwell by Paul Arthur and Keith

Jeffery (1996)

Lessons from the Northern Ireland Peace Process Edited by Timothy J. White

Foreword by Martin Mansergh

Key Web Sources

Accompanying case-study of Irish material will be accessed via the internet. Two

web-sites we particularly recommend for Irish material are www.ulster.cain.ac.uk

and the BBC site on Northern Ireland conflict,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/northern_ireland/understanding/

I also attach a detailed bibliography on both Irish and conflict management

materials from which you can browse and select readings that may be relevant to

your particular chosen topics.

The course will have a strong practice base. Insofar as they are available we will

call on the services of politicians and (especially) community activists to examine

conflict (and its resolution/transformation) from the ground up.

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Session Topic Assignments Due

Topic One Introductions, Syllabus Review,

your hopes and expectations

None

Topic Two Conflict Theory and the

Conflict in Northern Ireland

Read Chapter 3- Conflict Theory and the Conflict in Northern Ireland, Cunningham Jr. Consult CAIN and BBC sites

Topic Three De-Mystifying the Irish

Conflict

Read Background

paper, (2009)

sections of Beginners

Guide; 500 word report

Topic Four Background-

World War 1

Revolutionary period

Creation of two political

entities.

Read Ch 2 1922: The Birth of Irish Democracy Ch 2 Ireland and the Great War

Topic Five Understanding the key Issues in

Irish History

& Politics

Read chosen sections of

Beginners Guide;500

word report

Topic Six The impact of the Civil Rights

movement in Belfast.

Read Purdie and/or

O’Dochartaigh; 500

word report

Topic Seven Responding to conflict. The

dynamics of political violence

Read Arthur (2000)

chpt.3; 500 word

report

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Topic Eight Personalities and

ideologies

Identity

Belief Systems and

Political Systems

Read chapter/selection

from the larger

bibliography and

prepare for class

presentation

Group Discussion Forum

on the impact in Belfast Topic Nine Forgiveness &

Reconciliation

Making Sense of the

Troubles - David

McKittrick and David

McVea (2012)

View “Five Minutes

from Heaven”.

Class discussion and

500 word report

Topic Ten Impact of states and regional

organizations on conflict

Select your chosen

reading for class

discussion; 500 word

report Topic Eleven International

Perspectives

Role of USA

Read Arthur (2000);

chpts. 6 & 7; 500 word

report Topic Twelve From Analysis to

Negotiation

Read Arthur chpt. 9

Topic Thirteen

The role of unofficial

diplomacy and back

channels

View “The Secret

Peacemaker” . Read

Popiolkowski & Cull;

pp. 19-32 & 57-72;

500 word report

Topic Fourteen

From Negotiation to Read Arthur chpt. 10

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Implementation and final chpt. of

McKittrick and

McVea; 500 word

report

Topic Fifteen Creating a

Transformative Peace

Prepare for discussion

of Essay

Topic Sixteen Lessons from the

Irish Conflict of

general application

Lessons from the

Northern Ireland

Peace Process

Timothy J. White

Group Projects

Students will work together in assigned groups. Each group will present its work to

the class on the pre-arranged days. Each group will select a topic of current

importance that involves a conflict situation in Belfast or elsewhere. Groups will

research, write a group paper and make a presentation. Please remember to present

a broad range of perspectives of the issue and make recommendations for

addressing the conflict situation.

Groups will present their papers in class. Please prepare a short hand-out for each

class member defining your important points. Presentations may include the use of

debates, power point slides, video, role playing or artistic presentation or any other

creative medium. Presentations should take about 30 minutes, including time for

questions.

Organization of Class

Each formal session will be approximately 3 hours including coffee break. Class

participation and group work will be a key-note of each session. Integral to the

formal programme will be a series of public talks and/or visits in the local area to

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organisations and individuals that will enrich your understanding of modern

Ireland. The relevant web-sites are provided so that students can peruse

background material on each of the guest lectures/field-visits in advance.

Belfast Field Trip

Students will spend several days in Belfast, Northern Ireland, exploring the roots

of The Troubles.

Leading the BCA field Trip to Belfast is Rev. Dr. Gary Mason MBE, BA,

Dip.Th, D.D. PhD. He is a Research Fellow of the Kennedy Institute.

He has played an integral role in the Irish peace process. He has been prominent

in urban development and inter-community relations initiatives and he has led the

largest faith-based redevelopment project in Western Europe. He is a close

advisor on reintegration to Protestant ex-combatants and was instrumental in

facilitating peace negotiations with paramilitaries and government officials.

In 2007 his contribution was formally recognized by the UK Government when

he was honored for his activities by the Queen. In 2009, his church was the stage

from which Loyalist paramilitaries announced their weapons decommissioning.

He has lectured in political and academic forums throughout Europe, South

Africa, the Middle East and the U.S.A. on lessons from the Irish peace process.

He has been interviewed on CNN, BBC, ITV and various radio programs

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Web Resources on Ireland

The Complete Guide to Ireland, http://boris.qub.ac.uk/andrew/ireland/

A content-rich and nonpartisan guide to all aspects of Ireland, past and present,

and to maintain a comprehensive catalogue of Irish WWW resources

CAIN Web Service - Conflict and Politics in Northern Ireland

The CAIN (Conflict Archive on the Internet) Web site contains information

and source material on 'the Troubles' and politics in Northern Ireland from

1968 to the present. There is also some material on society in the region. CAIN

is located in the University of Ulster and is part of INCORE and ARK.

WWW.cain.ulster.ac.uk

The Eire-Ireland Page, www.sunsite.unc.edu/eire-ireland The Eire-Ireland component of the site contains links to both contemporary and

historical information.

Guide to Irish Politics Resources, www.ucd.ie/~politics/irpols.html This Web site provides pointers to a wide range of resources in the area of Irish

politics: academic links (links to professional political science information), basic

information (documents and other basic data), official agencies (links to a range of

public sector web servers), political organizations (links to web servers of parties

and other political bodies), current affairs (news, newspapers, newsgroups and

discussion lists), and miscellaneous (other links of Irish interest).

Irish National Information Server, www.hea.ie The Irish National Information Server (INiS) aims to provide access to

information--both Irish and world-wide--that is relevant to the academic, research

and educational communities in Ireland.

Northern Ireland on the Internet, www.kings.cam.ac.uk/dak14/ni.html The site is searchable by keyword, subject, or by using a map of Northern Ireland.

This is a compact, well-organized site, with useful links to Web resources on the

politics, society, history, and libraries of Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive

Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive (DFA) is an access resource for

teachers, students, historians, and anyone who has an interest in moving images.

The DFA contains over 70 hours of moving images about Northern Ireland from

1897-2000. There are items covering drama, animation, documentaries, news,

newsreels, amateur and actuality film. http://www.digitalfilmarchive.net/dfa/

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General Books on 'the Troubles'

Bell, J.Bowyer. (1993). The Irish Troubles: A Generation of Violence, 1967-1992.

Dublin: Gill and Macmillan.

Coogan, Tim Pat. (1995). The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal 1966-1996 and the

Search for Peace. London: Hutchinson.

Holland, Jack. (1999). Hope Against History: The Ulster Conflict. London:

Coronet Lir Books.

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Understanding the Irish Conflict

Bew, Paul, Gibbon, Peter, and Patterson, Henry. (2002). Northern Ireland 1921-

2001: Political Forces and Social Classes. London: Serif.

Boyle, Kevin, and Hadden, Tom. (1994). Northern Ireland: The Choice. London:

Penguin Books.

Darby, John. (1997). Scorpions in a Bottle: Conflicting cultures in Northern

Ireland. London: Minority Rights Publications.

Dixon, Paul. (2001). Northern Ireland: The Politics of War and Peace. New York:

Palgrave.

Dunn, Seamus. (ed.). (1995). Facets of the Conflict In Northern Ireland. London:

Macmillan Press Ltd. Farrell, M. (1980). Northern Ireland: the Orange State. London: Pluto Press Ltd.

McGarry, John, and O'Leary, Brendan. (1995). Explaining Northern Ireland.

Oxford: Blackwell.

McKay, Susan. (2000). Northern Protestants: An Unsettled People. Belfast:

Blackstaff Press.

O Connor, Fionnuala. (1993). In Search of a State: Catholics in Northern Ireland.

Belfast: Blackstaff Press.

O'Leary, Brendan, and McGarry, John. (1996). The Politics of Antagonism:

Understanding Northern Ireland (2nd ed.). London: Athlone Press.

O'Malley, Padriag. (1990). Northern Ireland: Questions of Nuance. Belfast: The

Blackstaff Press.

O'Malley, Padriag. (1997). The Uncivil Wars: Ireland Today. Boston: Beacon

Press. Whyte, John. (1991). Interpreting Northern Ireland. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Wright, Frank. (1992). Northern Ireland: A Comparative Analysis (2nd ed.).

Dublin: Gill and Macmillan.

History of the Conflict & Peace Process

An Crann The Tree. (2000). Bear in Mind: Stories of the Troubles. Belfast: Lagan

Press / An Crann.

Fay, M.T., Morrissey, M., and Smyth, M. (1997). Mapping Troubles-Related

Deaths in Northern Ireland 1969-1998 (2nd ed.). Belfast: INCORE, University of

Ulster.

Fay, M.T., Morrissey, M., and Smyth, M. (1999). Northern Ireland's Troubles: The

Human Costs. London: Pluto Press. McKittrick, David., Kelters, Seamus., Feeney, Brian., and Thornton, Chris. (1999).

Lost Lives: The stories of the men, women and children who died as a result of the

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Northern Ireland troubles. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing.

Smyth, M., and Fay, M.T., (2000). Personal Accounts from Northern Ireland's

Troubles: Public Conflict, Private Loss. London: Pluto Press.

Sutton, Malcolm. (1994). Bear in Mind these Dead: An Index of Deaths from the

Conflict in Ireland, 1969-1993. Belfast: Beyond the Pale Publications.

The Paramilitaries and “the troubles”

Alonso, Rogelio. (2007). The IRA and Armed Struggle. London: Routledge.

Bell, J.Bowyer. (1989). The Secret Army: The IRA 1916-1979. Dublin: Poolbeg.

Bishop, P., and Mallie, E. (1987). The Provisional IRA. London: Corgi Books.

Bolton, D. (1973). The UVF 1966-73: An Anatomy of Loyalist Rebellion. Dublin:

Gill and Macmillan.

Bruce, Steve. (1992). The Red Hand: Protestant Paramilitaries in Northern Ireland.

Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Collins, Eamonn. (1996). Killing Rage. London: Jonathan Cape.

Cusack, Jim., and McDonald, Henry. (1997). The UVF. Dublin: Poolbeg.

Dillon, Martin. (1989). The Shankill Butchers: a Case Study for Mass Murder.

London: Hutchinson.

Dillon, Martin. (1996). Twenty Five Years of Terror: The IRA's War Against the

British. London: Bantam (Transworld Publishers Ltd).

English, Richard. (2003). Armed Struggle: A History of the IRA. London:

Macmillan.

Moloney, Ed. (2002). A Secret History of the IRA. London: Penguin Books.

O'Brien, Brendan. (1999). The Long War: The IRA and Sinn Fein (2nd ed.).

Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.

O'Brien, Brendan. (2000). Pocket History of the IRA: from 1916 onwards. Dublin:

O'Brien.

O'Callaghan, S. (1999). The Informer. London: Corgi Books. Patterson, Henry. (1989). The Politics of Illusion: Republicanism and Socialism in

Modern Ireland. London: Hutchinson Radius.

Taylor, Peter. (1997). Provos: The IRA and Sinn Fein. London: Bloomsbury

Publishing Plc.

Taylor, Peter. (1999). Loyalists. London: Bloomsbury.

Toolis, Kevin. (1995). Rebel Hearts: Journeys within the IRA's Soul. London:

Picador.

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Research on specific Key Events in “The Troubles”

Anderson, Don. (1994). 14 May Days: The Inside Story of the Loyalist Strike of

1974. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan Ltd.

Bell, J.Bowyer. (1996). In Dubious Battle - The Dublin and Monaghan Bombings

1972-1974. Dublin: Poolbeg Press.

Beresford, David. (1987). Ten Men Dead: The Story of the 1981 Irish Hunger

Strike. London: Grafton.

Campbell, Brian. McKeown, Laurence., and O'Hagan, Felim. (eds.). (1994). Nor

Meekly Serve My Time: The H-Block Struggle of 1976-1981. Belfast: Beyond the

Pale Publications.

McCann, Eamonn., and Shiels, Maureen. (eds.). (1992). Bloody Sunday in

Belfast: What Really Happened. Dingle: Brandon Books.

McDaniel, Denzil. (1997). Enniskillen: The Remembrance Day Bombing. Dublin:

Wolfhound.

Mullan, Don. (1997). Eyewitness Bloody Sunday: The Truth. Dublin: Wolfhound.

Mullin, Chris. (1980). Error of Judgement: The Truth about the Birmingham Pub

Bombings. Dublin: Poolbeg Press.

Pringle, Peter., and Jacobson, Philip. (2000). Those are real bullets, aren't they?

Bloody Sunday, Belfast, 30 January 1972. London: Fourth Estate.

Purdie, B. (1990). Politics in the Streets: The Origins of the Civil Rights

Movement in Northern Ireland. Belfast: Blackstaff Press.

Specialist Study Areas in relation to “the troubles”

Bryan, Dominic. (2000). Orange Parades: The Politics of Ritual, Tradition and

Control. London: Pluto Press.

Cairns, E. (1987). Caught in the Crossfire: Children and the Northern Ireland

conflict. Belfast: Appletree Press.

Ellison, Graham., and Smyth, Jim. (2000). The Crowned Harp: Policing Northern

Ireland. London: Pluto Press. Jarman, N. (1997). Material Conflicts: Parades and visual displays in Northern

Ireland. Oxford: Berg.

McGarry, John., and O'Leary, Brendan. (1999). Policing Northern Ireland:

Proposals for a New Start. Belfast: Blackstaff.

Miller, D. (1994). Don't Mention the War: Northern Ireland, Propaganda and the

Media. London: Pluto Press. Sales, Rosemary. (1997). Women Divided: Gender, Religion and Politics in

Northern Ireland. London: Routledge. Adams, Gerry. (1995). Free Ireland:

Towards a Lasting Peace (Previous ed. published as, Politics of Irish Freedom).

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Dingle: Brandon Books.

Bell, J.Bowyer. (1990). IRA: Tactics and Targets. Dublin: Poolbeg.

Bloomfield, D. (1998). Political Dialogue in Northern Ireland: the Brooke

Initiative 1989-92. London: Macmillan Press.

Boyd, A. (1969). Holy War in Belfast. Dublin: Anvil Books. Darby, John. (1976). Conflict in Northern Ireland: The Development of' a

Polarised Community. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan.

Dillon, Martin. (1991). The Dirty War, London: Arrow Books Ltd.

Dillon, Martin. (1998). God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism.

London: Orion.

McElrath, Karen. (2000). Unsafe Haven: The United States, The IRA and Political

Prisoners. London: Pluto Press.

Restorick, Rita. (2000). Death of a Soldier: A mother's search for peace. Belfast:

Blackstaff Press.

Rolston, B. (1995). Drawing Support 2: Murals of War and Peace. Belfast: Beyond

the Pale Publications.

Materials on conflict resolution theory and unofficial Diplomacy

Sandole, Dennis J.D. et al (2009). Handbook of Conflict Resolution.

London:Routledge

Apter, David [ed.], (1997), The Legitimization of Violence. London and Geneva:

Macmillan and UNRISD

Crocker, Chester et al[eds.], (1999) Herding Cats. Washington DC; United States Institute of Peace

Press

Popiolkowski, Joseph and Nicholas J Cull [eds.], (2009), Public Diplomacy,

Cultural Interventions and the Peace Process in Northern Ireland. Los Angeles:

USC Center on Public Diplomacy. cpd@usc.edu www.uscpublicdiplomacy.org