Now CLOSED
ICNC – Rutgers International Institute for Peace Online Course
Deadline to apply is Sept. 27, 2015
International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) and the Rutgers International Institute for Peace (IIP, Rutgers University) will host the online, moderated course, “People Power: The Study of Strategic Nonviolent Resistance,” which will take place between October 9 and November 25, 2015.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Civil resistance is a social and political phenomenon that defies a long-held belief in the power of arms to challenge brutal, violent adversary. ICNC supported work on the development of unique datasets of nonviolent campaigns (NAVCO) leading to a ground-breaking, quantitative study that showed that civil resistance movements emerged and succeeded in challenging environments. It also established that civil resistance struggles are more than twice as effective against violent states as armed resistance groups.
Informed by these important findings this online course provides an interactive, in-depth and multidisciplinary perspective on civilian-based movements and campaigns that defend and obtain basic rights and justice around the world. We will explain how civil resistance can be such a potent force and what constitutes its underlying dynamics and effectiveness. We consider various cases of civil resistance struggles, including those that go beyond resistance against states and will study nonviolent organizing and actions to curb corruption, fight abusive business practices and challenge violent non-state groups.
By integrating voices from the field, we will reflect on the skills and agency of ordinary people, their strategies and tactics, backfire effect, and role of gender in civil resistance. Finally, we will look at how entrenched political and social structures and practices shift under the pressure of organized nonviolent movements that shape societies, nations and institutions long-term.
The course will involve a number of activities to be completed within specified time frames, including forum posts, review of recorded webinars, posted readings, and videos, Skype meetings and online discussions.
As part of the online course, participants engage with the assigned material and collaborate through
online discussions. Participation in the e-class is not restricted by time zones. Course content, its forums and posts are accessible to the participants any time during the day.
The main goals of this online course are:
introduce main concepts and ideas of civil resistance
discuss various cases of nonviolent campaigns and movements
reflect on effectiveness of civil resistance, and its power to overcome adversarial conditions
facilitate moderated discussions among participants, including their on-the-ground experience
provide interactive and structured learning environment so you can become a more informed observer of nonviolent conflicts and effective conveyor of civil resistance knowledge
Click here to view promotional video
All course materials – reading, videos, podcasts – will be provided. The online course will be led and moderated by the ICNC staff.
When: October 9 – November 25, 2015
Where: ICNC’s Online Learning Platform (civilresistancestudies.org). The online learning platform for ICNC-IIP, Rutgers online course will become accessible for the admitted participants before the start of the course.
Who should apply: Graduate students, educators, field practitioners, civil society and policy professionals.
What is expected from participants: Participants will review assigned readings and videos, post their comments in forums, and respond to other participants’ posts and moderators’ questions and comments. Participants will spend up to 10 hours a week in the course and complete a final project of your choice.
Graduate credits: Participants may choose to take the course and receive graduate credits from the Rutgers University, Newark Graduate School that may be transferable to one’s academic institution. Taking the course for credit will involve a fee and additional assignments
Cost: No credits: free | One credit: $678 USD | Two credits: $1356 USD. (payable to Rutgers University)
Course moderators: Dr. Maciej Bartkowski – Senior Director, Education and Research | Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh – Associate Director, Field Initiatives | Shaazka Beyerle – Senior Advisor | Althea Middleton-Detzner – Senior Advisor, Education & Field Learning | Amber French – Coordinator, Editorial Activities
Course administrators: Cathy Smith – Office Manager | David Reinbold – Coordinator, Digital Initiatives
Deadline to apply: September 27, 2015
Download course flyer
For more information, email academicinitiative@nonviolent-conflict.org