Conflict, democracy and facilitation
Information from the course leader
Important: Please visit this page regularly for updates and more information before the course starts
2022-01-14
Optional to attend via zoom on Monday 17th January
We have taken a last minute decision to give you the option to join the session on Monday in person or via Zoom (see link below). This given the increasing numbers of Covid cases in Uppsala. Teachers will be in the room that is planned for the session: Framtiden.
If you decide to come to the campus on Monday please be extra attentive to the recommendations from SLU and the Public Health Agency.
2022-01-11
Changes in schedule due to current Coronavirus situation (new course schedule uploaded)
Due to the current situation with the Coronavirus pandemic we changed several in person course activities to an online format. An updated schedule with the changes can now be found in the schedule tab. Note that the activities planned for Monday 17 of January will still take place on campus in room Framtiden.
The changes are based on recent guidelines from the Public Health Agency of Sweden and SLU's own instructions related to the pandemic (see details and more information in this link). Following these recomendatioins, the aim is to have teaching on campus approximately one day a week, prioritising practical and interactive moments of the course. Lectures on the other hand will be via Zoom.
Usage of masks is voluntary (find more information and recommendations in this link). For all online course activities, we will use one Zoom Link for the entire course. The zoom link will be provided at the start of the course.
2021-12-14
Welcome
Welcome to the Conflict, Democracy and Facilitation (CDF) course! We look forward to meeting you all. The course starts on Monday, 17 January, 9.00am (sharp) in Room Framtiden, building Mark, Vatten och Miljöcentrum (MVM). Address: Lennart Hjelms väg 9
On this day you will meet course teachers, will be provided with all the practicalities of the course, and register to it. Hence, it is very important that you attend this session.
In the "Schedule" link on the right side of this page you find the course schedule. Please note that minor changes may occur to the schedule once the course begins.
This course page will be used only before the course starts. After we will use CANVAS, SLU's education online platform where you will find all course information and documents. You will receive an invitation to join the CANVAS page in your SLU email latest on Friday 15ht of January. So please check your email before the course start. If you do not have an SLU email account, please contact it-stod@slu.se and ask them to help you get access to the course Canvas page. You will get detailed information on how to use Canvas on the first day of the course.
For questions or comments about the course please contact camilo.calderon@slu.se
We look forward to meeting you all!
CDF Teachers
2021-11-24
Literature List
In the tab Literature List below you will find the literature list of the course. Note that changes in the literature list may occur. The course does not have a coursebook that you need to buy in advance. All literature will be available in the course CANVAS page once the course starts. The texts for the first course week are provided below in case you want to start reading in advance (recommended as the course has an early course assignment).
Optional preparations before course start
In the CDF course there will be several individual and group assignments where you will benefit from good academic writing skills.
Here is a document with a number of resources about academic writing that would be worth for you to look at or study in order to improve your writing skills. The document is meant for the students of the Environmental Communication and Management programme but it is useful for other students as well.
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
MX0148-30217 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for MX0148
Academic year 2023/2024
Conflict, democracy and facilitation (MX0148-30314)
2024-01-15 - 2024-03-19
Academic year 2022/2023
Conflict, democracy and facilitation (MX0148-30099)
2023-01-16 - 2023-03-21
Academic year 2020/2021
Conflict, democracy and facilitation (MX0148-30225)
2021-01-18 - 2021-03-23
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
MX0148 Conflict, democracy and facilitation, 15.0 Credits
Konflikt, demokrati och processledningSubjects
Environmental Science Environmental scienceEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Comparision and synthesis | 4.0 | 0202 |
| Conflict and facilitation competence | 7.0 | 0203 |
| Individual reflection | 4.0 | 0204 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to English 6 from upper secondary school. Equivalent to 180 credits and specialized studies comprising 90 credits within one of the following subjects/disciplinary domains: natural sciences, technology, social sciences or humanities.Objectives
he aim of this course is to develop understanding on the role of democracy and facilitation in the design and facilitation of constructive group process and dialogue in order to manage conflicts and tensions within and between groups and organizations. The course addresses both the potential as well as limits of collaborative approaches to dealing with conflicts, and discusses the role of conflict in social change.
After completion of the course the student will be able to:
- Discuss theories about the social process and causes of conflict and factors affecting the constructivity and destructivity in conflict processes, social relations and interaction between individuals, groups and organizations
- Discuss theories about democracy, collaborative planning and power, and describe how they relate to theories about conflict, conflict management and facilitation
- Suggest conflict management and facilitation strategies to intervene in a conflict situation
- Reflect on his/her own role in social processes and in the conflict dynamics
Content
The pedagogical idea of this course is based in experiential learning. In the beginning of the course, theories about the social process of conflict and factors affecting efficiency, knowledge use, constructivity and destructivity in group processes, and interaction between individuals, groups and organizations are presented. Methods for conflict management and project coordination are presented.
In the second part of the course students carry out a project in groups. The aim of the project is twofold: 1) To investigate a natural resource management situation and the potential social conflicts with help of different methods 2) To observe and reflect about the social processes and the management procedure within the own project group and between the own group and other social systems, such as other student groups, teachers and the actors participating in the investigation. The project work result in a content report describing the investigated situation, and in a process report describing working procedure and social processes. In the individual exam students are applying formal theories when analyzing case studies, methods and own experience.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Examination through:
- Home-exam
- Content report on project work
- Process report on project work
Requirements to pass the course are:
passed home exam
passed participation and content report on project work
passed process report on project work
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Responsible department
Department of Urban and Rural Development
Further information
Litterature list
- Literature List [Literature List] (https://slunik.slu.se/kursfiler/MX0148/30217.2122/Literature_List_MX0148_-_Canvas.pdf)1) Coleman, PT. (2006). Intractable conflict. In Deutsch, M., Coleman, PT., Marcus, EC. (Eds): The handbook of conflict resolution – theory and practice [Coleman, PT. (2006). Intractable conflict. In Deutsch, M., Coleman, PT., Marcus, EC. (Eds): The handbook of conflict resolution – theory and practice] (https://slunik.slu.se/kursfiler/MX0148/30217.2122/Coleman_2006_Intractable_Conflict.pdf)1) Hallgren, L. (2016). Reframing conflict in natural resource management: Mutuality, reciprocity, and pluralistic agonism as dynamics of community constructivity and destructivity [Hallgren, L. (2016). Reframing conflict in natural resource management: Mutuality, reciprocity, and pluralistic agonism as dynamics of community constructivity and destructivity] (https://slunik.slu.se/kursfiler/MX0148/30217.2122/Hallgren_2016_Reframing_conflict_in_natural_resource_management.pdf)1) Hallgren, L., Bergeå, H., & Westberg, L. (2018). Communication problems when participants disagree (or avoid disagreeing) in dialogues in Swedish natural resource management–challenges to agonism in practice. [Hallgren, L., Bergeå, H., & Westberg, L. (2018). Communication problems when participants disagree (or avoid disagreeing) in dialogues in Swedish natural resource management–challenges to agonism in practice.] (https://slunik.slu.se/kursfiler/MX0148/30217.2122/Hallgren_Bergeau_Westberg_2018_Communication_Problems_When_Participants_Disagree.pdf)