Conflicts, Humanitarian Intervention and Reconstruction G (8763.4)

This unit will provide an understanding of the complex ethical, legal, social and political features of military and humanitarian interventions and the challenges of post-conflict and post-disaster reconstruction. The unit will explore academic and policy debates surrounding such interventions, examine the theoretical frameworks and conceptual tools developed to assess and analyse the issues and events that provoke intervention. The unit will focus on a series of recent case studies to better unpack the practical and policy challenges presented by humanitarian interventions and reconstruction missions, including the international laws, treaties and norms that guide and shape such missions, as well as the current practices of government and non-government agencies in the field.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Understand the complex ethical, legal, social and political features of humanitarian interventions and post-conflict and post-disaster reconstruction;
2. Engage with academic and policy debates surrounding humanitarian interventions and reconstruction;
3. Understand the potential and the limitations of humanitarian intervention addressing human security and development issues in conflict and post-conflict settings;
4. Understand practical and policy challenges presented by humanitarian interventions and reconstruction missions, including technical aspects such as food, health and sanitation;
5. Understand the international laws, treaties and norms that guide and shape such missions, and the current practices of government and non-government agencies in the field; and
6. Demonstrate the skills required to articulate and present critique appropriate for studies at post-graduate level.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Incompatible units

None

Equivalent units

None

Assumed knowledge

None