State building
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
No prerequisites required
Final oral exam
State Building (course for experts in cooperation and development programmes)
Course objectives and learning outcomes
The course is designed for those intending to work in the non-governmental organizations (NGOs), donor or government funded development programmes launched in Italy and at international level.
The course is aimed at exploring the fundamental principles at stake in the reconstruction of States coming out of post-conflict situations with severe violations of fundamental rights and the connected problems that societies have to face in such complex situations. The course, thus, explores the issues of state building and nation building, governance and development in the contemporary world, issues which are especially at stake after defeats of political regimes or civil wars. Experts will be invited during the course in order to tackle specific cases. The talks held by non-academic professionals working in the field of peacebuilding/conflict transformation are aimed to let students understand how the notions, concepts and tools introduced during the course are of use in practice.
Course contents
The course will tackle the theory of “State-building” and in particular the reconstruction of State in conflict-torn societies with severe violations of fundamental rights, exploring the role of constitution-making in the political and governance transition as the fundamental stage of establishing the necessary agencies for the functioning as a State. Several cases of international statebuilding efforts will be considered, with a focus on the EU’s statebuilding practices in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood.
In-class activities
In-class activities are varied and make use of a mix of frontal lectures, seminars, and exercises.
Textbooks and exam materials
The exam will focus on selected cases and materials. Exam materials will be provided during the lessons. Students not attending the course are required to send a mail to the professor asking for the exam materials.
Exam>
For students attending the course: they are required to take actively part on the course and to present a written paper at the end of the course tackling one of the issue considered during the course.
For students not attending the course: The exam is oral.
In both cases, grades are based on the student's mastery of topics covered in the course, his/her critical thinking, problem-solving and capability to use personal skills/resources in order to solve complex problems. Presentation capabilities are evaluated as well.
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