arthur mauroThe Arthur V. Mauro Centre at St. Paul’s College, University of Manitoba, is dedicated to the advancement of human rights, conflict resolution, global citizenship, peace, and social justice through research, education, and outreach.

For more information, including registration details, contact the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice.

Joint M.A. Program in Peace and Conflict Studies

Joint M.A. Program in Peace and Conflict Studies (governed jointly by the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg) is housed at the Mauro Centre (U of M) and the Global College (U of W) – The Joint M.A. Program in Peace and Conflict Studies (JMP-PACS) encompasses the analysis and resolution of social conflicts; peace research that examines the structural roots of social conflicts, divisions, and social inequalities; and strategies for building community and promoting social justice. The Program is intended to be rigorous as the significance of research and intervention for conflict resolution, peace-building, and creating a culture of human rights demands a high standard of commitment, scholarship, and professionalism.

Ph.D. program in Peace and Conflict Studies

The Ph.D. Program in Peace and Conflict Studies provides a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to prepare students to pursue independent research aimed at analyzing and resolving the complex issues facing the global milieu of peace and conflict using a variety of conflict resolution, social justice, and peace studies tools, processes, and methods.

It is the goal of the Program and the Mauro Centre to provide a rigorous doctoral program. The significance of research in peace and conflict studies, and of intervention for conflict resolution and peace-building demands a high standard of commitment, scholarship, and professionalism.

Storytelling for Peace and Renewing Community (SPARC)

Storytelling for Peace and Renewing Community (SPARC) is a Global Initiative of the Mauro Centre toward the following goals:

  • To promote knowledge and skills about innovative story-based approaches to conflict resolution, peacemaking, and community-building. To serve as a crossroads for peace-builders, storytellers and other artists, educators, and other people working to promote constructive cultural changes in their societies and/or in conflict zones.
  • SPARC is based on the idea that providing spaces for people define their experiences, identities, and vision for the future in a public context is an essential part of global citizenship, democracy, and establishing and maintaining human rights, peace, and social justice.
  • In 2009, SPARC was a semi-finalist, among 67 nominations from 40 universities in 19 countries around the world, for the first-ever MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship organized by the MacJannet Foundation and the Talloires Network.
  • SPARC synthesizes research, education, and outreach that focus on storytelling and peacemaking.

Interpersonal Communication, Problem-Solving and Trust-Building (PEAC 7010)

Examines role of language and communication where theoretical and practice perspectives are fundamental to the field of conflict analysis and resolution/peace studies. Power, gender, culture in communication and conflict; theories, practical skills for problem-solving, and trust-building are explored in diverse milieus.

Theories of Conflict and Conflict Resolution (PEAC 7020)

Provides an overview of the theoretical foundations of conflict analysis and resolution examining macro and micro theories regarding the causes of conflicts and approaches to their resolution. Conflicts are complex on multiple, interlocking planes. The course focuses on theory and the implications of these theories for practice.

International Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (PEAC 7030)

This course examines international conflict resolution, theories and philosophies of peace, and post-accord peace-building. Theories regarding the causes of international conflicts are reviewed. Approaches for just and enduring resolution to international conflicts, building peace, and the promotion of a global civil society are explored.

Violence Intervention and Prevention (PEAC 7040)

This course examines different definitions and types of violence from the interpersonal to the global level (e.g., family violence, youth and gang violence, violence in the workplace, hate crimes, and war). Theories of human aggression and causes of violence, as well as approaches for violence intervention and prevention are reviewed. Theories of nonviolence are explored.

Intercultural Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (PEAC 7050)

This course examines the role of socially constructed identities and meaning in intergroup conflicts in a variety of contexts. Culture is broadly conceived to encompass a variety of identities, including differences along racial, ethnic, religious, gender, and class lines. Various models for resolution are reviewed. The nature of and ethics of intervention in cultures other than one’s own are explored.

Special Topics in Peace and Conflict Studies (PEAC 7060, PEAC 7070 and PEAC 7300)

One key theme will be chosen from the interests and availability of faculty. The topics for 2017–2018 year are:
Narrative Approaches to Trauma and Community Building
Participatory Action Research in Peace and Conflict Studies
Advanced Qualitative Research
Terrorism
Critical & Emancipatory Peacebuilding
Young People Affected by Violence

International Human Rights and Human Security (PEAC 7110)

This course examines the shift in focus from state security to people. Human security is a bridge between the inter-related fields of development, human rights and conflict resolution. The course explores how these efforts at exploring the human condition can best be understood and applied.

Peace-building and Social Justice (PEAC 7120)

Examines the role of peace-building in short term crisis intervention and longer term conflict transformation processes. Social justice is addressed at the systems level as it impacts the achievement of sustainable reconciliation. Crisis management in conflict settings, the root causes of conflict and its prevention are explored.

Dispute Systems Design (PEAC 7122)

Examines the role of conflict resolution within organizations and diverse settings (workplace, schools, communities, multiparty conflicts, international conflicts). The course focuses on analyzing how conflict is built into organizational structures and systems, and redesigning the system to produce effective human centred relations.

Gender, Conflict and Peacemaking (PEAC 7124)

Examines the role of gender in conflict and peacemaking in areas of armed conflict. Women tend to be impacted and respond to conflict in ways different from men. The course explores the theoretical and practical contributions women activists, peace researchers and educators have made toward understanding the role of gender.

Ethnic Conflict Analysis and Resolution (PEAC 7126)

Examines theories of ethnic conflict and the intervention methods used by states, international organizations and conflict resolution and peace practitioners to analyze, manage and resolve ethnic conflicts. Case studies are used to explain conflict analysis and resolution and peace-building.

Storytelling: Identity, Power and Transformation (PEAC 7128)

Examines the role of narrative and storytelling in conflict resolution, theory, research and practice. The relationship between language and power and destructive or constructive relationships is explored. The use of storytelling-based projects as a means of peacebuilding and community building are explored.

This course is currently not being offered in the 2017-2018 year

Indigenous World Views and Approaches to Peace-building (PEAC 7240)

Examines indigenous models of peace-building from community level to national level. Emphasis is placed on restorative processes fundamental to cohesive relationships with others. This is achieved through ceremony, empathy, compassion, conflict resolution and restoration part of the peace-building models of Indigenous peoples.

Restorative and Social Justice (PEAC 7250)

Examines the principles of restorative justice, the theoretical foundations of the restorative justice movement, and the development of new restorative justice programs. Restorative justice healing, re-integration and reconciliation are explored in a variety of contexts, including colonized and postcolonial indigenous communities.

Peace Education (PEAC 7260)

Examines the role of peace education as students seek to make sense of complicated and perilous events in their society. The course provides students with a background in the area of social justice, peace studies and conflict resolution.

Practicum (PEAC 7500)

Students develop awareness of theoretical knowledge, practice skills andabilities necessary for intervention in community, group and organizational conflicts at a practicum site. Students integrate theory and experiential learning into practice to analyze the conflict, during the intervention, and post intervention reflection.