Flyer CAS 2013/14 - Advanced Study Centre

CAS
www.swisspeace.ch
Civilian
Impact
Peacebuilding
Dealing with the Past
Business and Peace
Course 2013/14
Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
Statebuilding
Gender
Conflict Analysis
Fragility
Peace Mediation
25 course days
Starting in September 2013
Basel and Bern, Switzerland
Registration deadline:
31 May 2013
Contact:
cas@swisspeace.ch
Illustration © 2013 Layla Lang (www.laylalang.com)

Aim and Content
In the past decade, civilian peacebuilding
has come to play a crucial role when
striving to transform violent conflicts,
ensure peace, rebuild war-torn societies
and prevent violence from re-erupting.
This postgraduate course provides
participants with a holistic understanding
of civilian peacebuilding. At the end of the
program, participants are aware of the
state of the art in selected peacebuilding
fields, they are able to link theoretical and
conceptual inputs to their concrete work
activities and to critically reflect on
peacebuilding practices. Furthermore,
they benefit from their newly established
network among peacebuilding professionals
in Switzerland and beyond.
Course Structure
The course consists of five modules
spread over one year (25 course days):
1. Introductory module
2. Thematic module
3. Training module
4. Applied module
5. Concluding module
Description of the Modules
1. Introductory Module (2 Days)
How has the field of civilian peacebuilding
evolved, both in terms of academia and
practice? Participants review the main
peacebuilding theories and discourses,
discuss terms and concepts, and examine
the development of peacebuilding policies
and practices. A special focus is put on
conflict analysis and on how violent
conflicts can be prevented.
2. Thematic Module (12 Days)
Participants receive theoretical-conceptual
and practice-oriented inputs in six
major civilian peacebuilding fields and
reflect on peacebuilding practices.
Peacebuilding Analysis and Impact
What impact do peacebuilding efforts
have? Which peacebuilding strategies are
effective? How can peacebuilding interventions
be made more relevant and
sustainable? This thematic block analyzes
failures and success stories in peacebuilding
with the aim of stimulating
reflection on peacebuilding practices.
Participants critically explore the current
debates and policy frameworks and
assess the challenges of translating them
into practice.
Gender in Conflict and Peacebuilding
How do gender roles change during
phases of violent conflict and war? And
how does this affect peacebuilding
processes? Participants examine the
gender-specific dimensions in conflict
and peacebuilding and become acquainted
with the respective policy frameworks
and their operationalization. Participants
reflect critically on the notions of masculinity,
violence and militarism in wartime
as well as on discourses on women as
actors and victims of war. An analytical
framework for examining gender-aspects
throughout the course is introduced.
Peacebuilding and Statebuilding
What role for the state in peace and
conflict? How can state and non-state
actors contribute to peacebuilding? What
role for the international community? This
thematic block looks at the state, governance
structures and practices in weak,
fragile and conflict-affected contexts. It
examines the evolution of understanding
the nature of the state, how a state can be
organized and what its main tasks and
responsibilities are, both in theory and
practice. Participants look critically at the
concept of state fragility, they reflect on
the complex interplay between peace-

uilding and statebuilding and assess the
relevance of ongoing debates in policy
circles about the role of external actors in
these processes.
Peace Mediation
Mediators bring conflict parties to the
negotiating table and support them in
finding agreements. Mediation used to be
a domain reserved exclusively for diplomats
and UN experts but in the last
decade the range of actors has broadened
and frequently professional mediators are
brought in. Participants gain insights into
the diverse challenges, which mediators
face when facilitating dialogue and
searching for peace agreements.
Dealing with the Past
Finding a way to deal with a violent past is
often argued to be the basis for lasting
peace, democracy and the rule of law. This
includes the identification of past human
rights violations, the prosecution of
perpetrators on a national or international
level, the rehabilitation of victims, the
establishment of truth commissions,
reparation programs, and institutional
reforms. Participants critically reflect on
such processes and assess their effects
on society, victims and perpetrators.
Business, Conflict and Peacebuilding
Violent conflicts lead to an unstable
environment for engaging in business
activities. At the same time businesses
influence the economic, political and
social dynamics of conflicts. This thematic
block explores the role of business actors
in violent conflicts and peace processes.
Participants analyze the link between
economic activity and conflict dynamics
and discuss the chances and challenges
of involving companies in conflict transformation.
3. Training Module (8 Days)
Participants are trained in practical tools
and pertinent methods for civilian
peacebuilding. In a special training course,
participants refine their skills in analyzing
conflicts, developing effective strategies,
designing relevant projects and assessing
the intended and unintended impacts of
peacebuilding interventions.
Additionally, participants select two
practice-oriented courses from the
training series offered by swisspeace’s
KOFF Center for Peacebuilding. The
program is published on: http://koff.
swisspeace.ch/activities/training-series.
4. Applied Module (2 Days)
Participants study different peacebuilding
processes and identify issues related to
impact, gender, statehood, mediation,
dealing with the past and business actors
in different contexts. Senior experts
comment on participants’ presentations
and share their experiences.
5. Concluding Module (1 Day)
Under the supervision of an expert,
participants write a conceptual or
practice-oriented final thesis or conduct a
practical project relevant to their work
context. In a final block, conclusions on
civilian peacebuilding are drawn and an
outlook on future developments is given.
Course Language
Courses are taught in English but assignments
may be written in English, German
or French.
Course Fee
CHF 8,500 including course materials.
Travel, food and accommodation costs are
not included in the fee. No scholarships
are available.

Target Audience / Terms of Admission
This postgraduate course is designed for
practitioners working in fields such as
peacebuilding, development cooperation,
human rights and humanitarian work or
peace and conflict studies and those who
aspire to work in one of these areas. A
minimum of two years of professional
experience in relevant fields and a
university degree (MA) or an equivalent
educational background are required. A
maximum of 25 participants is admitted
onto the course.
Workload, Time Frame and Venue
The course consists of 25 course days and
can be completed within a year or spread
over two years. 20 ECTS are awarded
(equivalent to 560 working hours). Assignments
include an essay, a learning portfolio,
a group presentation and a final thesis
or project. Active participation throughout
the course is required.
Most modules take place on Fridays and
Saturdays in Basel, the KOFF training
courses are organized on weekdays in
Bern.
September 2013: introductory module
October 2013 to April 2014: thematic module
and training module
May 2014: applied module
June to September 2014: concluding module
Diploma
Successful participants receive a Certificate
of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Civilian
Peacebuilding from swisspeace and the
University of Basel.
Host
The Swiss Peace Foundation swisspeace
is a practice-oriented peace research
institute associated with the University of
Basel and located in Bern. swisspeace
aims to build up Swiss and international
actors’ civilian peacebuilding capacities
by conducting research and providing
knowledge, training, networking opportunities
and a platform for sharing experiences.
Directors of Studies
Prof. Dr. Laurent Goetschel /
Franziska Sigrist (course management)
Faculty
swisspeace experts facilitate the modules
together with other experienced practitioners
and renowned academics from
Switzerland and beyond. Please visit the
course website for an updated faculty list.
Application Deadline
31 May 2013
Contact and Application
Franziska Sigrist, Training Officer
swisspeace
Sonnenbergstrasse 17, P.O. Box
CH-3000 Bern 7
Phone +41 (0)31 330 12 12
Fax +41 (0)31 330 12 13
www.swisspeace.ch , cas@swisspeace.ch