International Peace Mediation and International Negotiations

Please visit our website (www.fubis.org) for an overview of all courses offered and for possible updates to the course programme. About this course: To successfully address the numerous challenges of our time, people must cooperate peacefully with one another. Otherwise, humanity will struggle to tackle climate change, ensure equitable access to resources, and forge a future where peace, self-determination, freedom, and prosperity are possible. In this course, we will discuss the prerequisites and methods for fostering cooperation among individuals, solving problems collaboratively, and resolving conflicts peacefully. The course examines various conditions and models for cooperation, drawing on the latest findings from cognitive and behavioural research, psychology, sociology, game theory, systems theory, and complexity theory. It examines their relevance in creating conducive environments for cooperation. Building on these scientific foundations, the course introduces theories and methodologies for peacefully resolving differences and conflicts. The focus here is on mediation skills and international peace mediation. However, cooperation and conflict resolution are not just theoretical knowledge but skills that can and must be learned and practised. In the course, students have the opportunity to transform what they have learned into concrete skills through role plays and exercises. The experiences gained from these exercises are then collectively reflected upon. This approach ensures that knowledge does not only remain abstract but also is linked to concrete experiences, laying the groundwork for implementing what has been learned. The practical relevance is further strengthened through two visits to Berlin-based NGOs engaged in international peace efforts. We will also invite guest speakers from the field of international peace policy to engage in discussions with students. Depending on availability, international guest speakers may also be invited to join the course via video conference. Berlin holds a special significance for international peace efforts due to its historical context. Especially here, students can witness how a society confronted its past, including the Holocaust, war crimes, collapse, liberation, and subsequent new beginnings. These experiences will be enriched by visits to memorial sites in Berlin, enabling students to draw on concrete history to shape the future.