Violence and Peace in the Modern World

Presented by Ernesto Verdeja

This seminar explores political violence and peace in the world today. We will examine the causes of different kinds of violence, including war, genocide, state repression, terrorism, and the systematic marginalization of groups. We also investigate responses to violence and efforts to create a sustained and lasting peace, such as civil society activism, the promotion of human rights, war crimes trials, and truth and reconciliation commissions. The course will look at several case studies, including the genocide in Rwanda and the politics of reconciliation in South Africa. We will ask, how are these various challenges connected to one another, and how can we craft workable solutions?

About Ernesto Verdeja

Ernesto Verdeja is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. His research and teaching focus on the causes of large-scale political violence, mass atrocity prevention, and political reconciliation and justice. He is the Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Genocide and served on the board of the International Association of Genocide Scholars. His website is at everdeja.weebly.com.