Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Peacebuilding – syllabus
(PEAC3000 / 3 credits)
Rwanda presents an excellent setting in which to examine the various measures, strategies, programs, and projects that have been put in place by the government of Rwanda, western organizations, NGOs, and communities to mitigate the impact of conflict and to rebuild, reconstruct, and revive fractured relations and displaced communities. What choices for reconciliation, reconstruction, and development have been made in Rwanda? What theoretical underpinnings shape these choices, and what are the implications of these choices for sustainable peace and development?
Drawing on the contemporary theories of peacebuilding and related processes, the course provides a platform for critical analysis of not only the challenges but also the opportunities related to post-genocide reconstruction, and the pursuit of positive peace in Rwanda. Carefully selected visits to NGOs, government agencies, and to urban as well as rural communities in Rwanda are complemented by lectures by Rwandan experts and selected reading assignments. An excursion to the southwestern part of Rwanda enables students to critically focus on the prospects for sustainable development and peace in Rwanda.