The seminar builds on introductory courses in issues of peace and conflict, and focuses on armed conflicts and options for peacebuilding in Africa. It aims at creating a better understanding of armed conflicts in Africa by providing a theoretical background as well as research methodologies to help analyse conflict and peacebuilding processes from both ”modern” and ”traditional” perspectives.

Furthermore, the seminar addresses questions of research-policy transfer from a perspective of actors involved in international cooperation and diplomacy. It is structured into three parts : in the first part, students will work on a theoretical understanding of the phenomenon of armed conflict and ways to build peace in the African context (with inputs from the lecturer and students ; including individual and group work). The second part deals with research methodologies to analyse conflict and peacebuilding (inputs from the lecturer and students ; including a group exercise). During the third part of the seminar, students will work in groups to analyse different case studies and produce group presentations, as well as an academic and a policy paper. Preconditions for participation : successful participation in an introductory course / seminar in conflict- and peace-related issues ; very good understanding of English and French.