PECOS4111 – Conflict and Cooperation
Course content
Why do states cooperate to enhance their mutual security in some areas but not others? Conversely, why do they often cooperate less than they could to optimize their security arrangements? Why do nuclear states compete for nuclear superiority, and how does this competition impact nuclear conflicts? In this course, students examine the dynamics of cooperation and conflict among states. They will study the dilemma of balancing transparency required for verifying arms limitation treaties with safeguarding military secrecy, as well as the role of signaling and off-stage diplomacy during international crises. Additionally, the course explores allied cooperation to deter common threats and states' efforts to achieve nuclear superiority over their rival nuclear adversaries. The course introduces students to prominent theories of cooperation and international security, applies these theories to a series of security challenges, and assesses conceptual and empirical dimensions for states and organizations in responding to allegations of cheating and defection from cooperative arrangements.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
The course engages students in fundamental debates about international conflict and cooperation in a variety of issue areas. Specifically, students will be able to:
- Describe theoretical debates about security competition and cooperation;
- Explain how emerging security challenges affect cooperation problems;
- Identify central cooperative and enforcement dilemmas associated with arms control and allied cooperation.
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Skills
The course will help students develop fundamental transferable skills in a number of areas:
- Identify key trade-offs and policy dilemmas for interstate security cooperation;
- Assess evidentiary challenges, including incomplete information and disinformation, in handling these problems;
- Enhance understanding of the dynamics of international security.
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General competencies
After the completion of the course, students can:
- Understand key concepts and theories of security cooperation and conflict among states;
- Explain variation in security cooperation between states over time and across different issue areas;
- Assess how emerging security challenges challenge existing cooperative frameworks.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester?register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
For incoming students
All Master's courses in Political Science must be registered manually by the Department, they will not appear in Studentweb. Contact your international coordinator at UiO.
Recommended previous knowledge
Recommended previous knowledge
Knowledge of research methods equivalent to? PECOS4021 - Research Methods (discontinued) ?and? PECOS4022 - Applied Statistics for Peace and Conflict Studies .
Teaching
Ten two-hour seminars.
Compulsory activity:
Two seminar papers
If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed. Report absence from or the need for a postponed deadline on a compulsory activity? Absence from compulsory activities - University of Oslo (uio.no)
Examination
Three hour school exam
Examination support material
Printed material such as notes, books or printed articles are allowed
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.