Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences32: Peace Studies

Academic unit or major

Humanities and social science courses

Instructor(s)

Anastasiya Polishchuk

Class Format

Lecture (Face-to-face)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

5-6 Wed (G1-103(G114))

Class

-

Course Code

LAH.S506

Number of credits

100

Course offered

2026

Offered quarter

2Q

Syllabus updated

Mar 5, 2026

Language

English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

This course approaches peace not as the simple absence of war, but as a contested process of transforming violence, injustice, and insecurity. Across seven themed classes, students will examine structural and direct violence, nonviolent resistance, peace negotiations, economic sanctions, UN peacekeeping, and post conflict reconstruction, alongside emerging challenges such as climate change, disinformation, AI, drones, and cyber warfare. Drawing on both classic theorists and contemporary empirical research, the course asks what “peace” means, for whom, and at what cost.
Teaching is organised in a “30 40 30” format that combines short lectures, small group work, and whole class dialogue. In each session, students work with open datasets, peace agreement databases, and real policy scenarios to interrogate taken for granted assumptions about war and peace. Rather than treating peacebuilding tools as inherently “good” or “bad,” the course invites students to examine how they redistribute risks, responsibilities, and agency among states, armed groups, and civilians. By the end of the course, students will be able to use data and concepts from peace studies to critically evaluate concrete cases, design more just and sustainable peacebuilding mechanisms, and reflect on their own ethical responsibilities in an increasingly complex global landscape.

Course description and aims

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Empirically verify "classical" claims in peace studies (e.g., about deterrence, structural violence, or just war) using open data and historical or contemporary cases.
2) Explain and compare major strategies of violent and nonviolent contention, including total war, asymmetric and hybrid warfare, and civil resistance.
3) Evaluate the effectiveness and limits of key policy tools – negotiation and ceasefires, sanctions, aid, PKO, and reconstruction – using findings from quantitative and qualitative research.
4) Analyze how emerging technologies and climate change reshape conflict dynamics and possibilities for peace, and discuss associated ethical questions.
5) Interpret simple peace and conflict datasets and research figures and articulate what the evidence does and does not show.
6) Summarize data-driven findings in concise policy memos, compare multiple policy options under uncertainty, and formulate evidence-based recommendations.

Keywords

Peace Studies; Peace; War; Structural Violence; Nonviolent Resistance; Negotiation; Peacekeeping Operations (PKO); Sanctions; Technology and Warfare; Climate and Conflict; Empirical Verification; Policy Evaluation

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Each 100-minute session follows a "30-40-30" structure:
(1) Lecture (30 min): Core concepts, key debates, and empirical findings, presented with slides and data visualizations.
(2) Group Work (40 min): Groups of 4–5 complete a structured worksheet. Odd-numbered classes (1, 3, 5, 7): data interpretation tasks. Even-numbered classes (2, 4, 6): policy scenario analysis.
(3) Whole-Class Integration (30 min): Groups share findings; the class assesses what the evidence supports; the instructor connects to the following week.
Preparation: Students read 2-3 assigned texts per class (journal articles, book chapters, or short essays; typically 30-50 pages total).

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to reference books and other course materials.

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Walter, Barbara F. Committing to Peace: The Successful Settlement of Civil Wars. Princeton University Press, 2002.
Barash, David P., and Charles P. Webel. Peace and Conflict Studies. Sage Publications, 2021.
Open datasets: UCDP, NAVCO, PA-X Peace Agreements, TIES Sanctions Database, Global Peace Index.
Reading materials and handouts for class will be available on Science Tokyo LMS.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Class participation (30%): Active contribution to group discussions and whole-class integration sessions (asking informed questions, offering evidence-based arguments, responding constructively to peers, and connecting discussion points to course readings).

Group Worksheets (35%): Each class, groups of 3–5 complete a structured worksheet with specific tasks (e.g., interpreting a data table, mapping trade-offs in a policy scenario, comparing options with evidence). Worksheets are submitted after each class. 7 worksheets total.

Policy Memo (35%): 2,000–2,500 words, due one week after Class 7. A professional policy memo addressed to a specific decision-maker (government minister, UN mediator, or NGO director). Structure: (1) Context – what is the situation? (2) Problem – what decision must be made? (3) Evidence – what do course readings and data show? (cite at least 3 sources) (4) Options – compare 2 courses of action with trade-offs (5) Recommendation – what do you advise and why?

Students select a real case study for their memo. Suggested cases include: Ukraine-Russia peace process (draws on Classes 2 and 4), Iran sanctions regime (Class 5), MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Class 6), Myanmar civil resistance since 2021 (Class 3), or governance of autonomous weapons (Class 7). Students may also propose a case of their own with instructor approval.

An ungraded memo check-in (topic proposal and one-paragraph outline) is submitted after Class 4 so the instructor can provide early feedback on direction and scope.

Related courses

• None.

Prerequisites

No formal prerequisites. The course is designed for students from all departments, including those without prior coursework in International Relations or political science. Ability to discuss, read, and write in English is necessary.

Other

This is a 500-level course.
Science Tokyo (science and engineering fields) implements a wedge-shaped style education in which students take liberal arts courses continuously from the Bachelor’s Program through the Doctoral Program. Students are recommended to take liberal arts courses in ascending order of course level. In the semester immediately after enrollment in the Master’s Program (1Q and 2Q for students who enroll in spring, and 3Q and 4Q for students who enroll in fall), students may register only for 400-level Humanities and Social Science Courses.
Students may take 500-level Humanities and Social Science Courses after at least six months of study following enrollment (3Q and 4Q for students who enroll in spring, and 1Q and 2Q of the following year for students who enroll in fall).