STV4284 – Conflict and Security in Africa

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

This course introduces graduate students to the study of conflict and security issues in Africa. The course is organized around two major themes. One is armed conflicts in Africa, including civil war, communal conflict, and other forms of political violence. This focus includes the debate on state fragility, consequences of climate change for conflict dynamics in Africa, peacebuilding and international peacekeeping, and the gender dimensions of peacebuilding. The second major theme is Africa’s security architecture. This focus includes the politics of the African Union and regional organizations, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in Eastern Africa (IGAD), and their contribution to conflict management in African conflicts.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Students learn:

  • Understand the evolution of regional and international security architectures on the African continent
  • Critically engage with current debates and cutting-edge research in the fields of armed conflict, climate change, and peacebuilding, with a focus on African politics
  • Evaluate and critique theories of conflict and international intervention in Africa
  • Understand salient cases of conflicts and peace processes in recent African history

Skills

After taking this class students can:

  • Apply theoretical ideas and concepts covered in the readings to empirical cases of conflict and security in Africa for further analysis
  • Advance theoretical, methodological, research and presentation skills
  • Perform independent research on political science, human rights, and/or African studies topics

Basic competencies

  • How to discuss ethical issues of researching conflict and security in Africa
  • How to think systematically about conflict dynamics, colonial legacies, development, and security policy
  • How to develop and present a case-study analysis of African conflict and security policy together as a team
  • Formulate careful and well-reflected academic and policy-relevant judgments

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme. Apply for guest student statusif you are admitted to another Master`s programme (deadline 1 August / 5 January).

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Teaching

10 lectures with seminar discussions.

Obligatory activities:

  • Attend seven out of ten sessions
  • Participate in one group presentation

Examination

Written school exam, 3 hours

Language of examination

English

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 7:27:14 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
10
Teaching
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The course is offered irregularly. The course is not offered spring 2025.
Examination
Spring
Teaching language
English

Contact

Department of Political Science