Question Description
Choose an event in an ongoing conflict and explain main reasons for this event. Place your
explanation in a theoretical context using conflict theories and compare the event to a
similar event from another conflict. What policy recommendations would you suggest to
the leaders of adversaries to avoid similar events in the future?
General: A cover sheet includes all necessary details: course number, course name, student
name, date the paper is submitted. The paper meets the word limit. All sections in the paper have
subtitles. References follow Chicago Manual of Style. All literature items used in the paper have
references. The work is written in language accessible for non-experts in conflicts. The work is
written in a plain and respectful language. There are smooth transitions between sections and
from one sentence to the other. The work is written in a neutral language without taking sides.
When information is contradictory (e.g. different information is provided by different actors in
the event), mention this implicitly and provide reference to sources describing the perspectives of
each side. All pieces of evidence (e.g. number of casualties) should be cross-checked and
supported by references to several sources. When relevant, cite leaders speeches, official
documents, official data or any other relevant primary sources to substantiate your argument
(15%).
Section 1. Describe and explain a conflict event: (a) Choose a conflict that interests you most. In
that conflict, choose and briefly describe an event that puzzles you most. In the description,
mention what happened, when, where, and who were the actors involved. (b) What is the main
reason for this event? Explain why this reason is the primary reason for the event and how it
caused, or triggered, that event. Provide a clear argument of why the reason you suggest is more
relevant in the case of the event analyzed than other potential reasons. Refer to at least two other
potential explanation in your answer. Each of the reasons suggested and examined should be
clearly linked to the theoretical literature on conflicts and should engage with the readings of the
course (suggested length 1.5 pages, but no more than 800 words; 30%)
Section 2. Place the event into a comparative context. Choose and briefly describe a similar
event from another conflict. What is the main reason for that second event? Compare the main
reasons of the two events what is similar and what is different? Are the alternative potential
reasons for conflict suggested in previous section more relevant for explaining the onset of the
second event than of the first event? Link your discussion to the theoretical literature on conflicts
and engage with the readings of the course. Based on your comparison of the reasons of the
events, can the knowledge about one conflict event enhance our understanding of the similar
event in another conflict? Suggest at least one advantage and at least one disadvantage of making
parallels about similar events from different conflicts. (suggested length 1.5 pages, but no more
than 800 words; 35%)
Section 3 Conclusion and policy recommendations. Imagine that you are a security adviser to the
leader of one of the actors involved in the first event you analyzed (you can choose any actor,
including third party). What policy actions would you recommend to your leader in order to
prevent recurrence of a similar event in the future? Suggest at least one policy action of do and
one policy action of do not do. Make clear link to theoretical literature and to your analysis in
previous sections to substantiate your policy recommendations. Would your policy
recommendations change when you make the parallels with the similar event from another
conflict (event 2 in your analysis above)? Explain how and why? (suggested length 1 page, but
no more than 500 words; 20%)
