About
Krijn Peters is a rural development sociologist specialised in post-war reconstruction, international development, transport services and technology.
Krijn Peters is a rural development sociologist specialised in post-war reconstruction, international development, transport services and technology.
This module introduces and critically explores contemporary warfare and conflict, from post WWII up to the present War on Terror. It considers the de-colonization/independence wars; the Cold War proxy conflicts; post-1990 New Wars and the War on Terror.
The Conflict Trap: armed conflict undermines development, with buildings destroyed, schools closed down and hospitals looted, while slow or no development creates grievances which can act as a fertile ground of violence and armed mobilisation. So how to escape this Conflict Trap? In this module we will look in detail into this relationship between armed conflict and (the lack of) development. After all, countries in the Global South are more prone to experiencing armed conflict than their counter-parts in the North. We know that violence and conflict have been enduring and widespread obstacles to the promotion of sustainable development throughout the second half of the twentieth century, and into the first quarter of the 21st century. So we need to start with examining the root causes of conflict and violence in developing nations and explores how and why such conflicts emerge even between hitherto seemingly peacefully co-existing communities. But we not only ask what impact protracted and violent conflict can have upon development prospects. We are equally interested in how this vicious cycle can be broken and examine national and international initiatives and tools to mediate conflicts and rebuild countries post-war. . How to design a so-called Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme for ex-combatants? What to do with those who committed atrocities: a general pardon buying the cooperation of warlords and commanders or `no peace without justice¿? How to organise transform warring factions into political parties and organise those crucial first elections after the war has come to an end. In this module you will explore the nexus between armed conflict ¿ post-war reconstruction and longer-term sustainable development. It will provide you with an excellent basis for a career in conflict studies, international development and/or humanitarian aid, whether you plan to work in the UK or abroad.[
We are increasingly moving towards a globalised world. Nevertheless, there are still significant socio-economic differences between countries and within countries. A key question for many nations in the Global South is how to achieve inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development and reduce poverty. The scholarly discipline of Development Studies has studied this important question of how countries develop for the last 70 years. Over these decades many different models and approaches have been tried, by governments, by supra-national bodies such as the World Bank or the IMF as well as by Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society groups, such as Oxfam or Action-Aid. In this module an overview of Development as a planned intervention is provided, and the different development models and approaches are critically assessed. Furthermore, this module offers practical skills and an introduction to development tools, aimed at enhancing the planning and management capabilities of those already working in development or wishing to become development professionals. An important focus is on skills acquisition, and there is a strong emphasis on student-led learning, planning exercises, individual and group presentations, and case-study work[DJ.
Throughout your MA course, you¿ve been developing towards this point ¿ the dissertation. You are emerging scholars with fresh insights and depths of knowledge, and this is the time to put these to work and produce an original contribution to the field that you can be proud of. Over the late spring and Summer, with the extensive support of a supervisor expert in your area (and building on your existing methodology modules), you¿ll scope out, design, and conduct an independent project of study on a topic of your choosing, pursuing the questions that motivate your interest in the subject. You might be poring over declassified intelligence agency archives looking for evidence of complicity in mass violence, charting the everyday politics of energy and logistics that (quite literally) keeps the lights on, or answering the big questions about where we¿re going in an increasingly precarious twenty-first century ¿ this is a chance for you to truly spread your wings and research what interests you. Between this extended project, and the accompanying presentation of your findings, this represents the culmination of your studies, building on all the modules you¿ve studied and skills you¿ve gathered. This is a great opportunity to develop detailed knowledge of a particular field, hone competencies that will make you a skilled researcher and policy advocate in the real world, give you skills managing a major research project.
2013 - Present
2012 - Present
2010 - 2013
2010 - 2011
2005 - 2010
2001 - 2005
2000 - 2001