PS 3510 – CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND THE POLITYSPRING 2011

DR. CHARLES P. KELLY Thursday 4:30 – 7:15PM (J-204A)

Phone: 908-737-3992/3990Office Hours: M – 9:30 – 11:00 AM, 2:00 – 3:30 PM

Email T – 11:00 AM– 1:00 PM W – 2:00 – 4:00 - PM

Th. 10:00 – 11:00 AM

In the event of misplacing your syllabus, comparative review guidelines, or notebook questions, you can acquire an additional copy off my web page. .

Conflict Resolution and the Polity introduces students to the origin, nature and possible outcomes of conflict. It focuses on conflict at the interpersonal, intergroup, and the systemic level. The course will review various techniques used by professionals, specialized government agencies and others to resolve and manage conflict.

Students are responsible for the required reading material assigned. Additional reading assignments will be made during the semester. The final grade for the course will be based on a exam, a notebook, and a final exam. The notebook will be based on answering questions regarding the reading assignments (see attached for a set of questions that must be answered.) The midterm and final exams will be based on all material covered in the course, i.e., readings, lectures and discussions, both exams are short answers.

BOOKS REQUIRED FOR THE COURSE ARE:

Roger Fisher and William Ury. Getting To Yes. (New York: Penquin Books, 1991).

James H. Schellenberg. Confliction Resolution. (Albany, NY: StateUniversity of

New York Press, 1996).

Dates to Remember:

Jan. 24th Last day to WD with 100% refund/course deletion

Jan. 31st Last day to WD with 75% refund –“W” grade recorded

Feb. 7th Last day to declare course as an audit

Feb. 7thLast day to declare or change undergraduate Pass/Fail option

Feb. 7th Last day to WD with 50% refund

March 11th Last day to withdraw with “W” grade

READINGS AND OTHER ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF:

January 17 – 24 Toward A Theory of Conflict

Schellenberg, Conflict Resolution

Hereinafter referred to as Schellenberg, Introduction pp. 3-39

Also, C. Kelly “Conflict Resolution In the Polity”.

More To Learn Video Series,

KeanCollege, October 4, & 10, 1994.

January 31Systemic Conflict

Robt. Dahl “Political Conflict . . . “

(webpage)

Schellenberg, pp. 79 - 103

February 7Individual Characteristics Theories

Schellenberg, pp. 39 – 79

Robert Fisher “Negotiating power” (webpage)

February 14Conflict Strategies

Schellenberg, pp. 103 – 119

February 21 Group Conflict

Community Dispute Simulation

Irving Janis “Groupthink” (webpage)

February 28 – March 7Conflict Resolution: Diplomacy

Graham Allison “Conceptual Models of Decision-Making” (webpage)

“The Missiles of October” DVR

March 10Midterm Exam

March 14 – 20, 2011Spring Recess

March 21Conflict Resolution: Bargaining

Herb Cohens Video - Persuasive Negotiation

Schellenberg, pp. 135 – 155

Fisher & Ury, Getting to Yes (entire book)

March28Conflict Resolution: Mediation

Schellenberg, pp. 173 - 193

April 4Conflict Resolution: Fact Finding and Arbitration

Schellenberg, pp. 155 – 173, 193 - 207

April 11 – 18Conflict Resolution: Violence

Schellenberg, pp. 119 – 135, 207 - 219

April 28EXAM REVIEW

Notebooks are due

May 5FINAL EXAM

All students are required to take the exams and present notebooks on dates specified. Please note that “INC” grades will not be given simply because a student fails to complete the course. There must be a compelling rationale in terms of illness or other severe problems beyond the student’s control for missing an exam or schedule deadline. In such a case it is the RESPONSIBILITY of the student to initiate the request for a make-up exam or for an extension of a deadline. The student MUST initiate this request immediately upon discovering that he/she will not be able to meet the above requirement. FAILURE to get EXPLICIT (in writing) PERMISSION to miss an exam or deadline will result in grade of failure.

If you can not reach me at 908-737-3992, call 908-737-3990 and leave your message with the Political Science secretary, Carol Murphy.

  1. All students are expected to be on time for class, stay for the entire class period and leave when excused or when the class is dismissed. If students need to leave class during class period, he or she shall speak to me as soon as possible (preferably before class begins) as to the necessity.
  2. In class, please turn off the “Audible Alert” of cell-phones and pagers.

Midterm, final examination, and notebooks are weighted equally. Each will comprise 1/3 of your final grade.

IMPORTANT CURRICULUM NOTE

An Internship Program in Political Science, (three to six credits) is available for students who are at least Juniors or will be entering their Junior year in the spring. Political Science Majors can use these credits either as Major Electives or Free Electives. These Internships are also Writing Emphasis courses. We have many interesting placements -- but space is limited for these courses. You must see me soon for Internships. Students may also seek out their own individualized placement and suggest it for an official internship. Ask me!

Please see me before or after class if you are interested.

SPRING 2011NOTEBOOK QUESTIONS

CONFLICT: RESOLUTION AND THE POLICYDR. CHARLES KELLY

Weeks of January 17 – February 7

  1. What are the seven conditions that favor a peaceful adjustment of conflicts (Dahl’s “Political Conflict, Coercion and Popular Government” webpage).
  2. List and define the logical characteristics of the Authoritarian Personality (Dahl’s (Political Conflict . . .”)
  3. What three distinctions can be made within the field of conflict studies? (Schellenberg, Chapter 1).
  4. Why do human dominance hierarchies pose a persistent background for the study of social conflict? (Schellenberg, Chapter 2).

Weeks of February 7 – 21

  1. What does the Prisoner’s Dilemma suggest for the study of conflict? (Schellingberg, Chapter 2)
  2. What are three conceptual models for decision-making? (handout “New Approaches: Decision-Making and the Cuban Missile Crisis.”).
  3. What are some of the theories that focus the individual to explain aggression? (Schellenberg, Chapter 3)
  4. What are the symptoms of groupthink? (webpage “Groupthink” by Irving Janis).

Weeks ofFebruary – March 7

  1. What are some of the social process theories of conflict? (Schellenberg, Chapter 4).
  2. What are some of the social structure theories of conflict? (Schellenberg, Chapter 5).
  3. What are some of the formal theories of conflict? (Schellenberg, Chapter 6.
  4. What conditions favor one of the parties in dispute to resolve a conflict effectively through the use of coercion? Provide examples. (Schellenberg, Chapter 7).

Weeks of March 7 – April 4

  1. What are the four criteria of principled bargaining? Briefly discuss each one. (Ury and Fisher Getting to Yes).
  2. What five ways can you enhance your bargaining power? (webpage, Fisher “Negotiating Power”)
  3. What are some of the basic concepts of negotiations and bargaining (Schellenberg, Chapter 8)
  4. What are some of the major distinguishing characteristics of the American Judicial System? (Schellengberg , Chapter 9).

Weeks of April 4 – April 25

  1. What are the key features of mediation as a process to resolve conflict? (Schellenberg, Chapter 10).
  2. What are some of the major distinctions in the arbitration? (Schellenberg, Chapter 11).
  3. What were the four modes of conflict resolution tried in the Spink County War? Describe their outcome (Schellenberg, Chapter 12).
  4. How do the idealist and realist differ in their views of conflict? (Schellenbreg, the Epilogue).

PLEASE TAKE NOTE:

Students should answer the above questions from the chapter/webpage in parentheses. The answers should be in essay form at least a page in length from your notebook for each question. Write each question before answering it. Answers need not be typed but should be clearly written. Notebooks are due at the next to the last class meeting, Thursday, April 28. Treat this assignment as an exam. You are to work alone and will be evaluated as if this assignment was a take-home examination. Students who submit someone else’s work as their own risk failure, suspension and/or possible dismissal for plagiarism. AVOID LISTING concepts and/or phrases as your answers. Answers should be in sentences and paragraphs.

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