IPCR PhD Comprehensive Exam
Fall, 2006 v. 1

A. Field Definition

1. Discuss the role of Human Rights in promoting or inhibiting peace and the resolution of conflict. To what extent do "human rights" belong in the IPCR field? Explain.

2. IPCR is a relatively new field. What are some of the core "field definition" issues and what are the implications of these issues for the future development of the field as an academic area in terms of theory development, research and practice?

3. Peace and Conflict Resolution have been separated and combined in various academic programs, and researcher and practitioners define the two fields in different ways. Present and discuss the various aspects of relationship (debates, connections, contradictions) between those two areas of studies.

4. Recently concern for "failed states" has led scholars and policymakers alike to proclaim the state as indispensable for the consolidation of peace. Do you agree? Why or why not?

5. The field of peace and conflict resolution continues to face a number of contentious issues, and over time is working to address these. Such issues include the Western cultural bias, the lack of gender balance, the challenge of understanding and dealing with power differences, the constructivist critique, the perceived bias of liberal idealism, and others which could be identified. Choose three of these issues and outline the nature of the issue, the gains the field has made in the last 20 years in dealing with the issue, and the work that remains to be done.

B. IPCR Theory and Research

1. Choose 3 theoretical approaches in PCR and discuss how each of these theories relate, explain, and suggest how to handle conflicts with religious dimensions. What are the shortcomings and strengths of each theory in addressing such type of conflicts?

2. It has been said that "an integral part of the post-settlement phase is the parties' ability to reconcile and reconstruct a new relationship." What is reconciliation? What role does reconciliation play in conflict resolution? What are the approaches to reconciliation? What is the relationship between reconciliation and justice?

3. How do the approaches and dynamics of peacebuilding in a post-settlement society differ from those in a post-intervention setting, where one or more foreign/intergovernmental militaries has/have strategically defeated a regime?

4. The traditional analytical approach of the peace and conflict resolution field has been to accept and develop the so called 'grievance model' of conflict causation and its implications for resolution. Recently this analysis has been challenged by the 'greed model,' which posits other drivers of violent ethnopolitical conflict, and thus implies different strategies of intervention. Outline the main ideas of these contrasting models and describe some research support for each. Then provide a critique of each model and speculate about how they might be combined to provide a richer picture of the phenomenon.

C. IPCR Application

1. A variety of terms are used to describe third-party responses to conflict, including conflict "resolution," "mediation," "negotiation," "transformation," "management," and others. Define the differences between these approaches to conflict, the assumptions that underlie each approach, and the implications for theory and practice.

2. How do theories within IPCR address the sources and function of terrorism? How do these same theories frame possible policy responses to the political use of terror?

3. How does 'peace studies' conceptualize and operationalize sources of social violence in seeking practical responses to peacebuilding?

4. The profusion of conflict resolution and peacebuilding methods over the past forty years has been categorized as falling into Track I, Track II and Track III. Provide a definition of each of these major approaches and discuss their roles in peacemaking and peacebuilding, i.e., conflict transformation. Provide some commentary on their respective strengths and weaknesses, and then discuss how they can be seen as complementary rather than as competing.

5. What roles do cultural factors play in the applications of various models of peace and conflict resolution? Provide cases and examples in which cultural differences had little impact on the conflict as well as example sin which cultural differences affected the dynamics and intervention efforts.