Mainstreaming peace and conflict studies

Designing introductory courses to fit liberal arts education requirements

Bibliographic Data

ID12876144
AuthorsPatrick G Coy (Kent State University, corresponding author), Landon E Hancock (0000-0001-5054-5947, Kent State University)
Year2010
Volume7
Issue2
Pages205-219
Publication date2010-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Peace Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1740-0201 • E-ISSN: 1740-021X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17400201.2010.515659
OpenAlexW2106521151
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited20

Peace and conflict studies courses are seldom seen by faculty curriculum committees and university administrators as deserving to be part of their institution’s liberal arts education requirements. We show that this unfortunate tendency is rooted in a lack of understanding of not only the compatibility between the two but of their quite complementary connections. These connections include the liberal arts’ emphases on the following: producing liberated citizens; respecting diversity; thoughtfully considering different points of view; highlighting not just the rights of the individual but the responsibilities that accompany those rights. Using the experience of Kent State University’s Center for Applied Conflict Management as a case study, we show that by bridging the perceived gap between the traditional liberal arts core and peace and conflict studies it is indeed possible to have an introductory course in peace and conflict studies accepted as an option for fulfilling an institution’s liberal arts requirements. In the process of ‘mainstreaming’ peace and conflict studies this way, enrollments will expand exponentially, new generations of students will be equipped with conflict management skills, and the field of peace and conflict studies will gain more respect across academia

Conflict management · Conflict resolution · Conflict resolution research · Curriculum · Higher education · Liberal arts education · Mainstreaming · Peace Education · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Special education · The arts · Gender, Security, and Conflict · Indian History and Philosophy · Law · Peace and Human Rights Education · Public Administration

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