College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Graduate Catalog

233 MACS 6651 – Theories of Ethnicity & Nationalism Theories of Ethnicity and Nationalism: This course is foundational for theoretical understandings of ethnicity and nationalism. Students will analyze general theories from key debates and critically examine various points of view in relation to defining boundaries, conflict, context, difference, identity, migration, minority/majority, race and tribalism in regard to ethnicity, as well as community, fantasy, ideology, neo-Marxism, modernism, perennialism, political, primordialism, semiotic, sociocultural, socioeconomic, imagination, invention, and tradition in association with nationalism and nationalists, and the entwinement and interrelation between all of these prevalent notions and themes. Upon completion of the course students will better grasp ethnic belonging, ethno- nationalist conflict, and intra/inter-group disputes from the standpoint of applied theory, cultural relativity, and humanism. MACS 6652 – History, Memory and Conflict By exploring the significance of history, memory, and cognition, this course provides the most recent theoretical debates on these issues and their significance for understanding why populations persist in a state of violence. Students will be introduced to the basic and major theoretical interpretations and the chronology of history of ideas. Questions to be considered include: how does the past become the present and remain in it, and, how do we as researchers interpret the relevance of history and memory? Others are: how is the past invented, mythologized about, and re-invented? Why does memory have such an important role in the persistence of intractable hostilities and how does the learning of violence become transmitted from one generation to the next? MACS 6653 – Conflict in Conservation and Development This course examines conflict in conservation and development. It covers theoretical frameworks and introduces participatory tools that will enable students to more effectively analyze and address situations of conflict in conservation and development initiatives. The course familiarizes students with concepts and methods from natural resource management, sustainable livelihood systems and collaborative learning approaches. MACS 6654 – Islam, Conflict, and Peacemaking This course will provide an historical overview of Islam, including an introduction to belief systems, the different branches of the faith and schools of Islamic law with a special emphasis on Muslim doctrines related to conflict and peace. It will include the contemporary era and investigate Muslim engagements with modernity and discuss the varied responses and perspectives. There will some discussions of international relations, but the course will also emphasize micro level issues. Students will have the opportunity to develop research projects designed to extend their understanding of Islam and its potential as a resource for peace building. MACS 6656 – Gender, Conflict and International Development This course provides the student with essential understanding of factors that shape the social, political and economic roles of women and men in developing countries. The course covers the concepts of gender in conflict resolution and peace building by examining women and men's human rights and security, and the consideration of gender within developmental policies. The course provides an overview of concepts and gender analysis frameworks from a historical perspective. Students examine specific projects aimed at integrating women into community development. MACS 6657 – Conflict Coaching Theory and Practice This course examines the growing use of conflict coaching as a conflict intervention process and introduces different models and related theoretical foundations. The integration of theory and practice will emphasize the various stages including identity framework, narrative, needs assessment, goal setting, and feedback, utilizing a relational and systems orientation. The course develops coaching skills, strategies, and knowledge, and uses a practice-based approach, including role- plays and case studies. MACS 6658 – Transformational Narratives Across cultures, people effectively communicate about their conflicts and issues through narratives. In any helping profession, it is effective to create useful change with a clear understanding of the strategies of transformational narratives. By understanding what creates change in stories, we can help people rewrite their own accounts in ways that redefine their possibilities. This course offers analyses of narratives from traditions of conflict resolution and other interdisciplinary perspectives, promoting the ability to re- frame, refocus, and creatively intervene in stories of a personal and social nature to open useful possibilities for people who carry stories of unresolved struggle. Offered Summer. MACS 6659 – Conflict and Peace Building in Africa This course examines conflict and peace building dynamics in the African continent. Its content includes a survey of contemporary macro-level conflicts in Africa and an examination of their historical and more immediate causes. Class participants will explore the causes and effects of such conflicts and investigate prospects for constructive transformation. Past and ongoing resolution and peace building efforts will be discussed, and class members will propose a peace building strategy for a case of their choice. MACS 6660 – Conflict Management in Groups: Overt and Covert Dynamics