PSYM4506 – Human Rights, Democracy and Reconstruction after Conflict; A community based approach

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

The aftermath of serious human rights violations and climate conflict

This course aims at giving the students an introduction to international human rights with special focus on ways of dealing with serious human rights violations in the aftermath of these based on psychological knowledge and a psychological perspective.

An overview of international provisions and implementation in relation to justice, accountability and reparation after gross human rights violations will be presented. We then look at different cases - related to topics such as terrorism; genocide; psychological interventions in conflict, as well as climate conflict. We look at the role of psychology for persons involved in and affected by serious human rights violations and conflicts.

The course aims at introducing ways in which psychology can contribute with respect to reconstruction of democracy and justice following violence and conflict, as well as the role of psychology in climate related disputes and rights violations.

Different consequences of international conflict and climate related challenges will be discussed, including power dynamics as to who suffers the consequences of the problems and who are allowed to be part of the discourses on important topics. As part of the discussions and analysis of these phenomena, a culture and gender perspective will be given emphasis.

Develop critical analytical skills

A central feature of this course is to develop the students’ capacity to understand and apply principles and standards from international human rights into a community context. Insight into and knowledge about conflicts and consequences of these, will be given weight. Likewise a focus will be given to the development of critical analysis and understanding of these social phenomena based on a psychological approach.

The students will after their examination have acquired skills and knowledge within the field of post-conflict and reconstruction of societies after war, violence, and related to the climate crisis. The course prepares the students to further studies and research within their chosen field of study.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After completing this course, you will:

  • Be acquainted with human rights, both historical, as ideas and as principles for application and respect.
  • Have knowledge about community approaches to human rights, democracy and reconstruction after conflict
  • Have knowledge about democratic development, the power dynamics of intergroup conflict and climate conflict, and be familiar with different forms for interventions in societies in transition.
  • Be able to apply theory and research in order to explore or present such phenomena and be able to relate the knowledge to social, health, developmental and cultural psychology.

Skills

After completing this course, you will know how to:

  • Analyze and discu