One of my classes is a one-year diploma course in Conflict Transformation Peace Building. It is a course for students from my college, other colleges, and other professionals. It is the only class offered at Lady Shri Ram College where boys are allowed (gasp!), and by boys I mean four.
I know there is a good chance that I will like anything in which the political science professors organize constructivist introductions. I'm not joking, the first question was: What are your three primary identities? Mine were a spiritual seeker, global citizen, and environmentalist (explaining that I've always been termed an environmentalist but never claimed the title - as I'm now researching the politics of renewable energy, and hope to do work in international environmental protection, I suppose I have to start exploring that identity at some point. Until now it has been limited in scope to someone who likes the outdoors). I may have been the only woman who didn't claim a woman as an identity, honestly because until coming here I haven't thought much about feminism outside of relationships and enjoying Ani Difranco. I noticed none of the men listed "a man" as one of their identities.
The course throughout the year will cover several topics. First, an introduction to conflict analysis and conflict transformation (transformation-not resolution). Second, skill building: dialogue, mediation, facilitation, and negotiation. Third, violence, nonviolence, and conflict transformation. Finally, Human rights, gender, justice, and reconciliation. The first three will be done simultaneously in the first semester, the last gets a semester all to itself. Which is not to say the load will lighten up. We get to do an internship in the second semester, which will I think be very interesting, but also is supposed to be 30 hours per week for two months. Additionally, we have a research methods component and a research project in which more than gathering articles and writing is expected. Though I have months to decide, for today, I'm interested in the individual and community healing processes of conflict, perhaps involving Tibetans who fled from China. Expected for a thesis "of publishable quality" would be traveling to take interviews, etc.
All in all, it should be very interesting. The class meets Tuesdays and Fridays 4-6pm, and Saturdays 10-12. I suppose for most people this would be unreasonable, but as I like to be in bed by ten and sleeping in means waking up at 7, I really don't mind. I still plan on traveling, just making sure I get back for Tuesday's class. I don't plan on missing many of these, the informal seminar style and interesting topic will undoubtedly awake that nerdy side of me that takes true enjoyment out of these things.
I know there is a good chance that I will like anything in which the political science professors organize constructivist introductions. I'm not joking, the first question was: What are your three primary identities? Mine were a spiritual seeker, global citizen, and environmentalist (explaining that I've always been termed an environmentalist but never claimed the title - as I'm now researching the politics of renewable energy, and hope to do work in international environmental protection, I suppose I have to start exploring that identity at some point. Until now it has been limited in scope to someone who likes the outdoors). I may have been the only woman who didn't claim a woman as an identity, honestly because until coming here I haven't thought much about feminism outside of relationships and enjoying Ani Difranco. I noticed none of the men listed "a man" as one of their identities.
The course throughout the year will cover several topics. First, an introduction to conflict analysis and conflict transformation (transformation-not resolution). Second, skill building: dialogue, mediation, facilitation, and negotiation. Third, violence, nonviolence, and conflict transformation. Finally, Human rights, gender, justice, and reconciliation. The first three will be done simultaneously in the first semester, the last gets a semester all to itself. Which is not to say the load will lighten up. We get to do an internship in the second semester, which will I think be very interesting, but also is supposed to be 30 hours per week for two months. Additionally, we have a research methods component and a research project in which more than gathering articles and writing is expected. Though I have months to decide, for today, I'm interested in the individual and community healing processes of conflict, perhaps involving Tibetans who fled from China. Expected for a thesis "of publishable quality" would be traveling to take interviews, etc.
All in all, it should be very interesting. The class meets Tuesdays and Fridays 4-6pm, and Saturdays 10-12. I suppose for most people this would be unreasonable, but as I like to be in bed by ten and sleeping in means waking up at 7, I really don't mind. I still plan on traveling, just making sure I get back for Tuesday's class. I don't plan on missing many of these, the informal seminar style and interesting topic will undoubtedly awake that nerdy side of me that takes true enjoyment out of these things.
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