Entry requirements

Fulfilment of the requirements for a Bachelor's degree, from an internationally recognised university. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, students are expected to be able to:

• Independently and critically analyse the prospects and challenges of the Responsibility to Protect.
• Analyse the potential impact of different forms of interventions for civilian protection
• Critically and correctly, in English, present state-of-the-art reviews of research arguments and findings in the subject area.
• Independently delimit, design, and within the specified time limit carry out a report-writing task in the subject area.

Content

This course takes its starting point in the Responsibility to Protect. We trace the origins of the current norm that the international community has a responsibility to protect civilians when governments themselves are unable or unwilling to do so. We cover different forms of international interventions - such as military interventions, peacekeeping, sanctions, and diplomacy - and discuss their potential impact with regards to protecting civilians. Based on theories and empirical research, we analyze both the prospects and challenges for civilian protection through international intervention. The focus is on how various forms of intervention influence the capacity and incentives for actors to target civilians.

Instruction

Instruction is seminar-based. The course builds on the active participation by the students. The language of instruction is English.

Assessment

Examination and final grading is based on student performance in three respects:

• A written academic paper, in which the students address a question related to the topics covered by the course
• An oral presentation of an analytical seminar assignment
• Active participation in seminar discussions

The following grades are used: Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G), Fail (U).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Uppsala University does not accept cheating and plagiarism. Suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, which may issue a formal warning to the student or suspend the student from studies for a certain period.