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Peace Agreements: Ending Intra-state Conflicts - POL00056M

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  • Department: Politics and International Relations
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Nina Caspersen
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the peace agreements that have been signed in intra-state conflicts since the end of the Cold War. The purpose is to uncover the similarities and differences between these agreements, the choices available to negotiators, and the conditions impacting on the success and failure of peace agreements.

The module is structured thematically, it draws on theories of conflict resolution, and includes analysis of a number of different peace agreements - such as the Dayton Peace Agreement (Bosnia), the Good Friday Agreement (Northern Ireland) and the Oslo Accords (Israel/Palestine).

The module will first examine the content of these peace agreements - the toolkit available to negotiators - and the ways in which this has expanded since the end of the Cold War. This will cover the following issues: Territory (secession/partition/dual sovereignty/autonomy), security (troop withdrawals, demobilisation, army composition etc.), power (designing the political system: power-sharing, elections etc.), and people (refugee returns, education etc.). We will then turn our attention to the process of negotiating peace agreements, examining the timing of such initiatives and the possibility for third parties to help guarantee agreements or create a 'ripe moment' for peace.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

  • Identify and analyse the changes in the content of peace agreements that have occurred since the end of the Cold War
  • Examine peace agreements in-depth, identify possible sticking points and discuss ways of overcoming them
  • Discuss and evaluate the key dilemmas facing mediators trying to negotiate an end to intra-state conflicts
  • Discuss the relative importance of content vs. process in securing a successful peace agreement
  • Critically examine the role of third parties

This module will also equip students with a range of key transferable skills:

  • The ability to identify problems and develop solutions
  • The ability to critically examine competing views
  • The ability to analyse primary sources
  • The ability to compare and contrast empirical cases
  • The ability to work independently and in small groups
  • The ability to present findings; verbally and in writing

Indicative assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor's feedback and guidance hours.

Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than six weeks after submission; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor's regular feedback and guidance hours.

Indicative reading

Ramsbotham, O., T. Woodhouse and H. Miall, Contemporary Conflict Resolution (Polity, 2011)

Bell, C. Peace Agreements and Human Rights (Oxford University Press, 2003)

Darby, J., R. MacGinty (eds), Contemporary Peacemaking: Conflict, Peace Processes and Post-war Reconstruction (Palgrave Macmillan, 2008)

Hartzell, C.A., M. Hoddie, Crafting Peace: Power-sharing and the Negotiated Settlement of Civil Wars (Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008)

Stedman, S.J., D. Rothchild, E. Cousens (eds) Ending Civil Wars: the Implementation of Peace Agreements (Lynne Rienner, 2002)

Toft, M. D. Securing the Peace: The Durable Settlement of Civil Wars (Princeton University Press, 2009)

Zartman, I. W. (eds.) Elusive Peace: Negotiating an End to Civil Wars (Brookings Institution, 1995)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.