The Science and Art of Building Peace after Violent Conflict

Catalog description

Violent conflicts erode the fabric of communities by diminishing social bonds and trust. What is the impact of violence on societies, and how can groups learn to live and work together in peace? This course will tackle this question by exploring the science and art of building peace in the aftermath of collective violence. We will examine how violent conflict affects individuals, communities, institutions, and socio-political culture. Then, we will investigate the promise and shortcomings of various peacebuilding strategies including intergroup contact, peace education, transitional justice, and mass media campaigns. The class will take place fully in Bosnia. Students will learn about the impact of collective violence on communities and examine peacebuilding activities after the war. Students will interact with practitioners to critically assess the challenges of peacebuilding in Bosnia. Assignments will ask students to reflect on these experiences, and apply this knowledge to other contexts of their interest. This course will be offered in June-Term 2026. This course will be taught in Bosnia and Herzegovina and will count as an Away J-Term course.