General provisions

The course is included in the Master's Programme in Religion in Peace and Conflict.

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree where the main field of study consists of at least 90 credits in Theology, Law, History, Philosophy, Linguistics, Educational Science, Social Science or the equivalent. The main field of study should include an individual assignment worth at least 15 credits.

Learning outcomes

The course aims for the student to become better able to:

• reflect upon and analyse questions of religiously inflected mobilization, struggle and conflict, with attention to historical, sociocultural and biographical contexts;
• research such questions by seeking out relevant sources of information and assessing their validity;
• write about such questions, with attention to detail and incongruity, in essays as well as in short web-based reflections;
• speak about such questions in class presentations and discussions, with attention to the arts of public communication and persuasion.

Content

The course takes up episodes of today’s turmoil, zeroing in on particular instances of religiously inflected mobilization, struggle and conflict. Using fresh articles distributed weekly as web links, we analyse social movements, ideological contention, nonviolent action and political violence in specific cultural contexts. The course culminates in a compulsory multi-day on-campus symposium of lectures, discussions and exercises.

Instruction

The course is a distance-learning course. The students must fulfil written assignment and on-line seminar within specified time. Contact between teachers and students takes place via a learning platform. An Internet connect computer is essential. There are a few days of compulsory attendance on campus in Uppsala.

Assessment

The course is assessed on the basis of active participation in seminar discussions, written assignments (5.5 credits) and active participation at the campus week in Uppsala (2 credits). Access to internet connection is necessary.

Other regulations

Please note that the stated teaching methods may be replaced by self-studies if there is a very low number of students.

Transitional provisions

Students who have studied according to this course syllabus may be examined according to the same syllabus within two years of the course date. In special circumstances, a retake may also occur at a later date. Normally, teaching according to an older course syllabus will not be offered.