POLITICAL SCIENCE 139-4: Third Parties in International Conflict Management

Research shows that most third-party attempts at stopping violent conflict fail. Yet, even marginal success in conflict resolution can save lives and prevent a considerable amount of suffering. Therefore, scholars and practitioners find it worthwhile to continue looking for ways in which intermediaries can help disputed parties reach peaceful settlements or sometimes even prevent deadly conflict from occurring in the first place.

The main goals of this course are (1) to emphasize the diverse nature of international disputes and the variety of techniques third parties use in managing such conflicts; (2) to assess the motives and goals of third parties in conflict management; and (3) to develop a framework through which students can begin to identify why some interventions succeed and others fail.

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