Peace, Security and Conflict
Recent
past and current events have forced a change in thinking about the dynamic
relationship between Peace, Security and Conflict. This career track prepares students to be
innovative forward-thinkers adept at incorporating analyses of historical events
into their solutions for current day situations. New security challenges can emerge rapidly,
forcing actors to confront complex, unfamiliar questions while continuing to
address historic tensions.
Changing
power relationships can create new anxieties. New technologies both pose
security threats and provide opportunities to promote peace. The rise of
non-state actors forces governments and international organizations to adapt
their strategies to better address human security and understand conflict
drivers.
To
be adept policymakers, those interested in careers in security studies,
conflict management, and peacebuilding must understand how these new challenges
affect the international environment. Being knowledgeable about new security
realities allows for the development of more effective policies by
nation-states, international agencies, and non-governmental organizations to
address threats to international peace and security.
Coursework
includes conflict drivers and peacebuilding strategies, national and
international security, post-conflict reconstruction, spoilers of peace,
civil-military relations, international cooperation, intelligence, military
operations and strategy, and transnational threats.
ISPL: Institute for Security Policy and Law
The Maxwell School and the College of Law support a systematic, interdisciplinary approach to important questions of law and policy related to national and international security. Students in the MA IR program can earn a Certificate in Security Studies within the 40-credit MA IR program.
[Formerly known as the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT)]
Faculty
Public Administration and International Affairs Faculty
Maxwell and SU College of Law Faculty
- James Baker (LAW)
- A. Peter Castro (ANT)
- Gavan Duffy (PSC)
- Michael Ebner (HST)
- Miriam Elman (PSC)
- Ryan Griffiths (PSC)
- Azra Hromadzic (ANT)
- Natalie Koch (GEO)
- McCormick (HST)
- Lars Rodseth (ANT)
- Robert Rubinstein (ANT)
- James Steinberg (MAX)
- Brian Taylor (PSC)
Core Course Recommendations
Students pursuing careers in peace, security and conflict
work should develop an understanding of both micro-and macroeconomic issues, be
prepared to work in either the governmental or non-governmental sector, and
conduct research to support programming, general analysis or policy advocacy.
For this reason, students are encouraged to consider the
following classes as part of their core requirements.
- Economics:
PAI 720: Principles of Economics.
- Management
of Programs and Staff: PAI 762:
Challenges of International Management and Leadership or PAI 763: NGO Management in Developing and
Transitional Countries.
- Research
Design and Evaluation: PAI 705:
Research Design for International Relations Practitioners, PRL 611: Public Relations Research, or ANT 681 Ethnographic Techniques.
- Signature
Course: PAI 707: Culture in World
Affairs or PSC 783 Comparative
Foreign Policy.
Peace, Security and Conflict Course Offerings
ANT 600 Politics, Religion, and Violence
ANT 624 Negotiation: Theory and Practice
LAW 728 International and EU Human Rights Law
LAW 778 International Human Rights
LAW 790 Counterterrorism and the Law
PAI 601 Fundamentals of Conflict Studies
PAI 715 Conflict and Security in
Cyberspace*
PAI 715 Evolving Global Security
Landscape*
PAI 718 U.S. National Security: Defense
and Foreign Policy
PAI 719 Fundamentals of Post-Conflict
Reconstruction
PAI 730 Central Challenges to National
Security Law and Policy
PAI 738 U.S. Intelligence Community:
Governance and Practice, 1947 - Present
PAI 739 U.S. Defense Strategy: Military
Posture and Combat Operations
PAI 765 Humanitarian Action: Challenges,
Responses and Results
PSC 700 Civil Wars
PSC 749 International Security Theory
PSC 788 Political Leadership
(* taught in the Maxwell-in-DC program)
Alumni Careers
Visit the Palmer Center for Career Development's Career Field Guides for more information about Careers associated with the Peace, Security and Conflict Career Track.
Non-Governmental Organizations
Senior Fellow, Center for Security Policy
Programme Executive, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom
Government Service
Director of Foreign Affairs, Afghan National Security Council
Deputy Director, Estonian Ministry of Defense
Private Sector
International Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation