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76277-01 - Seminar: Angewandte qualitative Methoden: Untersuchung kausaler Zusammenhänge zwischen Hilfeleistungen und Gewalt in zeitgenössischen bewaffneten Konflikten (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Mario Roman Behrens (marioroman.behrens@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Humanitarian aid delivery during armed conflict aims to save the lives of civilians, who are often the most affected by contemporary inter- and intrastate conflicts. However, research into the causal relationship between humanitarian aid delivery and conflict dynamics shows that aid delivery not only saves lives but also extends the duration of conflict in some instances. In the case of civil wars, it has been found that aid delivery tends to be biased toward one side of the conflict, thus increasing incentives for renewed uprisings. Additionally, aid delivery encourages looting, raises violence against civilians, and can be perceived by conflict parties as undermining their authority. In other cases, however, aid has been shown to improve public service delivery, thereby reducing incentives for civilians to join a potential rebellion. Therefore, whether humanitarian aid has a positive or negative impact on conflict dynamics and seems to depend on the specific conditions of each case. In this seminar, we will explore the process of case-based qualitative research in political science, applying it to humanitarian studies while focusing on the causal relationship between humanitarian aid and violence. This will result in the presentation of research designs developed by the participants throughout the seminar. We will discuss the development of a research question, the requirements for conducting a literature review, the selection of relevant theories, and the resulting qualitative methodological options. Methodologically, the seminar focuses on political science, but we will also discuss findings from disciplines such as human geography, sociology, and ethnography, which are integral to the research field of humanitarian studies. |
| Learning objectives | At the end of this seminar, students should: • Have a basic understanding of qualitative research in political science and its application. • Understand the key components of a research design and how to develop them. • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the relationship between humanitarian aid delivery and conflict dynamics from a political science perspective. • Be able to summarize and critically question the arguments of scientific texts. |
| Bibliography | • All readings, the program, the information sheets etc. are located in an ADAM workspace. Once you have booked the seminar on MOnA, you will automatically receive access to the workspace within the next 24 hours. |
| Comments | All Seminars will be graded in the Department of Political Science. Grading scale 6.0 to 1.0, whereupon 4.0 is a pass. The number of participants will be limited. The places are assigned according to date of enrollment and subject of study. Priority will be given to students of Political Science. |
| Admission requirements | All Seminars will be graded in the Department of Political Science. Grading scale 6.0 to 1.0, whereupon 4.0 is a pass. The number of participants will be limited. The places are assigned according to date of enrollment and subject of study. Priority will be given to students of Political Science. |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Monday | 14.15-15.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
Dates
| Modules |
Modul: Erweiterung Gesellschaftswissenschaften B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Methoden der Nahoststudien und der Gesellschaftswissenschaften (Bachelor's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Modul: Methoden der Near & Middle Eastern Studies und der Gesellschaftswissenschaften (Master's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Modul: Regionaler Fokus B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Vertiefung Politikwissenschaft B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | • In Groups: o Short thematic input for one seminar session o Development and Preparation of a Qualitative Research Design o Participation in the Panel, where research designs will be presented. Either as host, presenter, or discussant • Individually o Response Paper based on one of the readings o Regular and active attendance |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,5 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Politikwissenschaft |