PDS 503: APPROACHES TO PEACE BUILDING AND CONFLICT
MANAGEMENT (3 CREDITS)
The course explores the “modern” (Western) approach to peace building and conflict management including its advantages and disadvantages. It also examines the indigenous (African) systems of peace building and conflict management, and their advantages and disadvantages. The two systems – Western and indigenous – are then contrasted and hybrid systems emerging from these are also discussed.
PDS 504: SOCIOLOGY AND ECONOMICS OF CONFLICT (3 CREDITS)
The course introduces students to social research evidence and the key issues about conflicts and applies theoretical and empirical economic tools to its study. Students are exposed to ways in which the unequal allocation of resources, both locally and internationally, contributes to conflict and affect development. Students are also exposed to various economic frameworks for evaluating conflict situations and their consequences. The course also identifies the linkages between the economy on one hand and crime (eg. organised crime) and violence on the other, at the micro level and macro level (civil wars) The dynamics in the small arms market and how these affect economic growth and development are also discussed.
PDS 505: RESEARCH METHODS (3 CREDITS)
The course introduces students to the existing methods of social research and data analysis. The issues to cover are foundations of social research, the scientific method, qualitative and quantitative research methods, techniques of data collection and analysis, reliability and validity, sampling, evaluation research, statistical data processing and presentation as well as proposal and report writing.
PDS 506: CHIEFTAINCY AND LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (LRM)
(3 CREDITS)
This course examines land and natural resource ownership patterns in Ghana. The traditional role of the “earth priest”, the increasing powers of chiefs in current land allocation systems and the emerging conflicts are discussed. Traditional land and natural resource management and coping mechanisms are contrasted with the modern trend towards land titles and land commodification. Special consideration is given to understanding issues of female marginalisation in land ownership and natural resources management. Hybrid systems such as Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) are explored towards sustainable Land Resource Management.
PDS 507: CHIEFTAINCY AND GOVERNANCE (3 CREDITS)
This course focuses on the role of traditional authorities (chieftaincy as an institution) in governance. Students are encouraged to find a fit between the activities of traditional authorities and the current governance system (the duality). Emphasis is placed on the relevance of the institution of chieftaincy to our current political system, the role of chiefs in resource management, and chieftaincy as a source of conflict.
PDS 508: ETHNICITY, INEQUALITIES AND CONFLICT (3 CREDITS)
Students are exposed to the historical and contemporary aspects of the different ethnic groups in Ghana. Within this context, various theories of ethnicity and ethnic relations are used to analyse conflicts precipitated by ethnic difference. The unequal access to resources as reflected in ethnic identification is considered. The particular roles and position of women within ethnic groups are studied as they impact on development. Strategies for managing the resulting conflicts and reducing inequalities are also discussed.
PDS 509: GENDER, CLASS AND CONFLICT (3 CREDITS)
The course focuses on gender as an important factor that determines men and women’s differential access to productive resources of society, power and decision-making and their implications for the development process. The dynamics of the differential access of men and women to productive resources in relation to stratification systems are explored. The implications of these inequalities in family and kinship conflict situations and the role of gender in war and peace making processes are discussed.
PDS 510: RELIGION AND CONFLICT (3 CREDITS)
The course explores the complex roles of diverse religious traditions in contemporary conflicts in Ghana with the focus on the three main religions in Ghana (African Traditional Religion, Christianity and Islam) and their various sects. It encompasses the religious involvement in conflict, from the religious legitimation of violence to religious peace building efforts, such as mediation by religious groups and efforts to promote inter- and intra-religious dialogue. It focuses on how religion is lived in Ghana by examining how religious leaders and movements translate sacred scriptures and traditions into practical principles that shape decisions and behaviours within the context of development.
PDS 511: POLITICS AND CONFLICT (3 CREDITS)
The course examines the relationships between politics, conflict and development and considers strategies that address their interplay in a variety of settings, both before violence breaks out across social fault lines, and after. It discusses poverty as a breeding ground for resentment and despair. Additionally, it examines the ways in which political, social and economic development can contribute to, or undermine, peace, the ways in which conflict complicates development, and how peace building strategies can promote development. It also analyses the intervention strategies of international organisations, national governments and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and addresses the policy dilemmas that most conflict-torn developing countries have in common, and compares how these dilemmas have been solved in specific conflicts in Ghana.
PDS 512: MIGRATION AND REFUGEE REGIMES (3 CREDITS)
The course focuses on issues in international and internal migration and how these affect development especially in the less developed countries. It also examines movement of internally displaced people and refugees; smuggling and human trafficking, especially children and women; the effect of immigrant populations on the development of local communities and the economic contribution of migrants and associated conflicts. The course also considers the obligation of a state or society to admit refugees and the rationale for migration control. The changes in the international system of refugee regimes and the role of the UN High Commission for Refugees are addressed. It also analyses the development of national and international refugee policies and actions within the context of the changing global environment and implications for the protection of refugees. Differences between refugee movements and other population movements, protocols relating to the status of refugees, repatriation and resettlement of refugees and international relations are examined.
PDS 513: GLOBALISATION AND CONFLICT (3 CREDITS)
The course explores the paradoxical manifestations of the phenomenon of globalisation as a logical step in the progression of human societies, on one hand and as negative effects of the current international order, on the other. Students are exposed to the political, economic, social, cultural and religious promises and challenges posed by globalization and their implications for conflict and peace. Managing the process of globalization to minimize the negative effects and maximize its benefits to humanity is addressed.
PDS 514: REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT (3 CREDITS)
The course discusses the several efforts at regional integration worldwide and the relationship between regionalism and development. Students are exposed to the conceptual and empirical issues on regionalism and the problems and challenges for the transformation and development of economies. Case studies of regional integration schemes and the extent to which they promote cooperation, diffuse tensions and reduce the possibility of regional armed conflicts are also examined.
PDS 515: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS (3 CREDITS)
The course provides an overview of the basic concepts and theories of human rights. It also introduces students to the conceptual underpinnings of human rights and their implications for development. Within this context, the UN Bill on Rights, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Women’s Rights and the Rights of the Child are discussed. Students are encouraged to learn about their civic liberties, citizenship rights and basic fundamental freedoms and responsibilities.
PDS 516: GHANA AND GLOBAL POLITICS (3 CREDITS)
The course exposes students to the role Ghana plays in world politics. It discusses and evaluates Ghana as an actor in world politics and the changing global relationships and power structures. Specifically, the role of Ghana in ECOWAS, AU, UN and Commonwealth is also examined. The role of multilateral organisations in the development of Ghana is examined.
PDS 517: REGIONAL SECURITY, CRIMINALITY AND DEVELOPMENT
(3 CREDITS)
The course focuses on criminal activities in the international environment and their implications for security in regional blocks in the context of development. Criminal activities covered are child trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, computer-based fraud, proliferation and movement of small arms and influx of refugees from neighbouring regions. The course also addresses how these criminal activities within and outside nation-states generate conflict and affect regional security and development.
PDS 518: INDUSTRIALISATION, INEQUALITY AND CONFLICT (3 CREDITS)
The course considers ways in which industrialisation has exacerbated inequalities and affected the path of development. Spatial inequalities both within nation-states and between the nation-states and the rest of the world as a result of industrialisation are examined. In addition, various class, gender and labour/management issues emerging within industry and how these affect development are considered. Strategies for resolving conflicts within industry are explored.
PDS 519: TRADE UNIONISM AND CONFLICT (3 CREDITS)
This course examines the concepts and meanings of trade unionism and organized labour in general. It explores the historical and theoretical foundations of trade unionism in Ghana, trade unionism as a progeny of power and production relations, the relations between capital and labour and the indigenous forms of labour organisation and labour relations such as Abunu and Abusa in Ghana. Also covered are issues related to trade unionism and social partnerships, tripartism, gender and trade unionism and labour organisation in the informal sector.
PDS 520: LABOUR LEGISLATION (3 CREDITS)
The course examines concepts and theories of legislation and labour legislation including the concepts of law, social contract, justice and morality. Basic theories of law such as natural law and legal positivism; substantive and procedural law, adjectival law and legislation are discussed. Also examined are the rationale and motivation for and sources of labour legislation. The course also explores the indigenous modes and forms of labour legislation and the evolution of labour legislation in Ghana as well as international labour standards and the role of standard setting organisations such as the International Labour Organisation and World Trade Organisation.
PDS 521: INFORMAL ECONOMY (3 CREDITS)
The course discusses the genesis of the informal economy and its role in national development. Students are provided with the background information including characteristics, structure, composition and operations of the informal economy. Problems and challenges hindering the sector are discussed. It also examines how to organise and improve the activities of the informal economy for economic development.
PDS 522: INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY (3 CREDITS)
Students are encouraged to examine workplace behaviours and relations that promote conflict and hinder development. Some major issues that promote industrial peace at the workplace such as motivation, job satisfaction, workers’ participation and leadership are examined. Case studies of workplace behaviours, motivation, job satisfaction, workers participation and leaderships are examined.
PDS 523: MINING, CONFLICT AND DEVELOPMENT (3 CREDITS)
The course focuses on key concepts of natural resources including renewable and non-renewable resources. Minerals as non-renewable resources and their roles in national development as well as sources of conflict are explored. Mining, and the gold rush in Ghana, and its contributions to resource alienation, environmental degradation, economic exploitation, social challenges and the conflicts these generate are also examined.
PDS 524: ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY (3 CREDITS)
The course focuses on legislative processes that influence policy in the context of development. It introduces students to the law pertaining to the environment such as pollution and degradation. The course also exposes students to the relationship between environmental policies and legislation and their implementation and effects on development. Within this context, the existing statutory efforts such as the National Environmental Action Plan and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Law as well as international environmental conventions are analysed.
PDS 525: PROPERTY RIGHTS, CONFLICT AND DEVELOPMENT (3 CREDITS)
The course explores the dynamic relationships between different property rights, externalities and conflict and examines the extent to which they impede or foster economic development. Students are provided with an understanding of the main concepts, typology and theories of property rights and externalities and how these can be applied to a broad range of economic and environmental issues including pollution, deforestation and land use. Social and economic explanations for externalities, failures in property rights transitions and their implications for development are also discussed.
PDS 526: CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (3 CREDITS)
The course examines corporate threat to the environment and how this generates conflict between and among the corporate world and society. It presents comprehensive and critical analyses of the role of business in environmental and developmental issues. Corporate environmental strategies and tools for environmental management as well as corporate response to national and international environmental protocols are also discussed.
PDS 527: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS (EIA/SIA)
(3 CREDITS)
The course imparts skills in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (EIA/SIA) as development-environment decision making tools. It covers issues such as the overview, background and perspectives on EIA/SIA, law policy and institutional arrangements for EIA/SIA, mastering the EIA/SIA processes including key elements and procedures as well as the stakeholder and public involvement and participation in EIA. The social impacts of conflict, in all its dimensions, are discussed.
PDS 528: SOCIETY, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT (3 CREDITS)
The course exposes students to sociological insights into environmental issues. It covers such issues as political economy of consumption, production and regulation, and the relative impact of technology, social change and social organization on environmental degradation. Ethical issues in the field of environmental management, environmental regulation, advocacy and social movements are also discussed. Students are exposed to how these relationships generate conflicts in society and affect development.
PDS 529: STATISTICS (3 CREDITS)
The course focuses on the statistical analysis, presentation and interpretation of data. In addition to basic statistical methods, students will also be introduced to advanced statistical methods such as test of hypotheses and significance, regression, correlation and multi-variant analysis.
PDS 599: THESIS
This entails the preparation and submission of a thesis at the end of the two semesters. This should normally not exceed 50,000 words. Topics selected should fall within any of the themes described in the various courses.
9. TEACHING METHODOLOGY
A mix of teaching approaches are applied. In addition to the lecture method, problem-based learning and other student-centred methods will be used extensively. Some staff of the CDS have been trained in problem-based learning and this method is already being applied in the Governance and Sustainable Development M. A. Programme.
10. RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
This is a multidisciplinary programme and so the staff will be drawn from several departments in the University of Cape Coast. These are the Departments of Economics, Sociology, Geography and Tourism, Religious Studies, Management Studies, Educational Foundations, African Studies, Physics and the CDS. The programme will require a Coordinator to be nominated by the hosting Department (the CDS) in consultation with the Head of Department of Sociology and appointed by the Vice Chancellor. The programme will also require a 33 Seater bus for students’ field trips, a four-wheel drive vehicle to monitor filed-work, office space, and office equipment such as computers, laptops, tables/chairs and video camera. Funding for equipment will be derived from various sources. The UNDP is supporting the procurement of books and staff capacity building. Students’ fees will fund both tuition and the purchase of equipment.
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