MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

COURSE SYLLABUS
PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES
Diplomacy, Law and Protocol Engagements in Peace and Conflict Studies.
Advanced Diploma

INSTRUCTOR: FELIX O. OMOTOSHO (PhD)

INSTRUCTOR’S OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS: TBD
PHONE: (+220) 3850319; 2290660
E-MAIL ADDRESS: omotoshofelix@yahoo.com
CLASS HOURS AND
TBD
LOCATION:
A. COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES

This course is designed primarily for a professional advanced diploma program in peace and conflict
studies at the Management Development Institute, The Gambia. It is designed to assist its students
acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge and experience through diplomatic exposures and
drilling in the handling of peacekeeping operations abroad while on posting. As envoys of the United
Nations and/or any other international organizations like the African Union or ECOWAS and that of their
respective nations, there is need for peacekeepers (civilians or force-men and women) to be drilled
adequately and get exposed to diplomatic protocols and state engagements in order for them to perform
adequately in peace operations. They also need enough training on how to conduct relations with their
hosts abroad as well as the strategies of negotiating for good deals in conflict resolutions, peace
building, peace enforcements. Often times, such drills come as crash programs in preparations for
postings. However, the imperative of exposing students at the Advanced Diploma level is of significance
basically for technical and diverse reasons. Here, students will be given inductions on the constitutive
elements of diplomacy and its associated laws and principles in line with the UN’s Charter on Security
and Peace-keeping operations abroad. They will be acquainted with what are protocol engagements
and procedures as they represent envoys. They will be taught the dos and don’ts of peacekeeping,
especially, with regard to peace monitoring, peace building, non use of force except in defense of
mandate and on how to respect host country’s cultures and sovereignty.

Diplomacy is at the centre of foreign policy, helping to shape a country’s national interests and/or the
international regime’s agreement and consensus; believed to be the collective ‘decision and wil’l of the
world when dealing with a regional, sub-regional or pluralistic body(ies) e.g. the AU or EU etc. Among
many interests inherent in nations’ foreign policies are issues of peace settlement and conflict
resolutions and these are usually taken to Regime Bodies like the UN which they all belong for collective
decisions and actions. For example, the recent resolution passed as a collective decision by the United
Nations Security Council to denuclearize North Korea’s current perturbing nuclear testing escalations
sponsored by the USA. The study of peace and conflict brings these out for students to be grounded
both in theory and practice. Conducts of foreign policy embraces or is enmeshed in protocol
engagements and procedures and these are also taught the students so as to enhance their operational
capability, experience and skills on the job.

At the end of the course, students should be more exposed to the modus operandi of diplomatic and

1
protocol engagements during/in peace operations. They should become more knowledgeable and
familiar with peace operations and its patterns and procedures. They should be equipped with strategies
of negotiating deals and the stages involved in negotiating conflict escalations for descalations in the
spirit of the UN’s resolutions and mandates. They will be more familiar with field training and
administrative procedures in peace operations. They will also be familiar with the structures of peace
operations at the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Department (DPKO), the Department of
Field Support (DFS), the legitimacy of the UN Peacekeeping Operations according to Chapter V of the
UN Charter, believed to be necessitated by the principle of collective security embraced by all UN’s
subjects (nations of the world). They will also be intimated with the fundamental/ basic principles guiding
peacekeeping anywhere it is situated for world security. They will acquaint selves with the authority,
command and control in UN peacekeeping operations and the basic constitutive roles of a peacekeeper
in operations.
B. LEARNING RESOURCES

Textbook(s):
1. Acuff, F. L. (2008) (3rd ed). How to Negotiate Anything with Anyone Anywhere Around the World.
AMACOM, USA.
2. Malhotra, V. K. (2006). Internationl Relations, Anmol Publications PVT. Ltd; India.
3. Akinboye and Otto, O. (2007). A Systematic Approach to International Relations. Concept
Publications Ltd; Lagos, Nigeria.
4. Oyelakin, L. O. (2014). The Nigerian Diplomatic Practice. Polygraphics Ventures, Ibadan,
Nigeria.
5. Anifowoshe, R. et al (2005). Elements of Politics, Iroansi Ltd; Lagos, Nigeria.
6. Newspapers and Magazines on Diplomacy, Peacekeeping Matters, Crisis Management and
Law. Also, search for Government releases on Peace administration, Peace keeping Operations
etc.
7. Heywood, A. (2007). Politics. Palgrave Foundations, NY.
8. Visits to WANEP @ Fajara for consultations, other Resource centers etc.
9. Online visitations @ www.bookboon, Academia.edu, Google Scholars, the Social Media and
other internet information centers.
10. Group discussions/ Tutorials collections.

Wishing you a successful and rewarding learning outcomes, Amen..

C. STUDENT ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION

The class assessment for this course shall be as follows:

(i) First Assignment 10%
(ii) Field Report 10%
(iii) Project work 20%
(iii) Class test 10%
50% - CA
The composition of exam will be determined by what was covered for semester work in general. Any
variation in changes to the above stated shall be notified in the course of learning.
D. COURSE PATTERN AND POLICIES

1. Instruction methods will be both theory and practical, assisted by some excursions to selected
embassies, field operations around like the ECOMIG office, Military Barracks, Office of the
President and the Foreign Affairs Ministry to meet with relevant officials on the field and

2
 acquaint with operational planning and mechanisms.
2. Classes will be interactive and student-centered.
3. Assignments and project work will be given as part of continuous assessment and in case of
any field trip, students will be required to write their report(s) of sightseeing and/or meetings with
officials and offices visited.
4. Class attendance is compulsory and all assignments MUST be written and submitted.
5. Use of phones and other distracting accessories are prohibited while in class.
6. In class it is required of all polite behavior and culture of studying.
7. Lateness to class and/or absence from class without due process is not allowed.
8. All students must possess a copy of the course syllabus and bring it to class every lecture to
monitor class progress.
9. All assignments are to be typed and properly referenced.
10. Plagiarism must be avoided, because it is an academic fraud punishable. No copy and paste
and no dubbing. Originality is highly encouraged.

COURSE OUTLINES
Week LECTURE TOPIC(S) AND READINGS
1&2 Diplomacy, law and protocol and their nature, elements, instruments and determinants in
relation to peacekeeping and collective security system of the UN.
3 &4 Approaches to the study of international relations and diplomacy in relation to peace and
conflict studies.
4&5 Diplomacy, law and protocol studies and the regime institutions – The UN in focus. The
role and powers of the security council in peacekeeping operations and collective
security system.
6&7 Components of foreign policy and diplomatic negotiating: National interests, Theory of
bargaining, Negotiating ideals, stages and strategies, Outcomes and Orientations.
8&9 Field trips and report- writing.
10 Class test
11&12 Diplomacy and crisis management-The UN strategies.
13&14 Seminar presentations: Students’ paper/project works presentations. Some top
members of the department will be requested to be in attendance. Panel to be headed
by Mr. Lamin B. Sanyang- The Program Coordinator.
15 Revisions
16 Examination

Signed by ……………………………………………

Date ………………………………………………….

Cc: Coordinator of Studies; Mr. Ebrima Ceesay