The Social Mechanisms of Violence
Syllabus, Master's level, 5HG011
- Code
- 5HG011
- Education cycle
- Second cycle
- Main field(s) of study and in-depth level
- Holocaust and Genocide Studies AXX
- Grading system
- Fail (U), Pass (G), Pass with distinction (VG)
- Finalised by
- The Faculty Board of Arts, 12 October 2010
- Responsible department
- Department of History
General provisions
The Hugo Valentin Centre, Uppsala University, is responsible for the course. The course was approved by the board of Hugo Valentin Centre 2010-10-12.
Entry requirements
General entrance requirements for Master courses or Master programmes or B.A. in the Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences. Special requirement is a good result on international tests such as TOEFL (internet based 92 points, computer based 237 points, and written test 580 points), IELTS (6.5 points, not less than 6.0)
Learning outcomes
The course addresses sociological and social psychological theories of violence, focusing on the dynamics of group behaviour and social factors influencing acts of violence. It deals with the intermediate level in genocidal situations, but also with "spontaneous" and organised violence in various contexts: deadly riots, pogroms, and massacres, occurring independently or during civil war and regular warfare. The goal is to identify mechanisms of violence, using a comprehensive approach based on classical and recent discussions on the character and progression of collective violence, as understood by different theoretical perspectives, and taking into account general theories on social identity, cognitive processes, and mobilisation.
Learning Outcome
The student will:
- get acquainted with general sociological and social psychological theories on the cognitive and structural properties of social identity, the social psychological mechanisms involved in intergroup distance and hostility towards out-groups, as well as the social and cultural factors at work during social mobilisation.
- acquire an overview of major social theories of violence and their relation to fundamental theoretical perspectives in the social sciences.
- gain insights into the use of violence in civil and ethnic wars, as well as regular warfare.
- develop an understanding of the dynamics of massacres, as isolated events and as part of genocidal campaigns.
- obtain a thorough comprehension of the social and social psychological processes occurring in contexts of mass violence.
Competence
The student will:
- develop an awareness of how social structure, contextual factors, social interaction, and cognitive-cultural mechanisms affect social behaviour.
- acquire a comprehensive understanding of the character and dynamics of violence as a social phenomenon.
- be sensitive to similarities and differences between various types of collective violence.
- be aware of how explanations of violence are related to specific social scientific perspectives.
- acquire basic instruments for independent reflection on instances of mass violence.
Content
The course will consist of lectures and seminars. Seminar discussions will be based on mandatory literature and students' own reflections.
Instruction
Study of literature, active participation in seminars, as well as oral and written assignments.
Assessment
Examination will include active participation in all seminars and written examination. Grades will be given in accordance with the Swedish grading system: Väl Godkänd (VG), Godkänd (G), Underkänd (U).
Reading list
No reading list found.