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77494-01 - Practical course: Armed Conflicts and Health: Intersections (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers |
Chiara Carrara (c.carrara@unibas.ch, Assessor)
Rufino Sitoe (r.sitoe@unibas.ch) |
| Content | “There cannot be health without peace, and there cannot be peace without health” Dr. Tedros. Currently, the world is experiencing over 114 cases of armed conflict, as noted by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Approximately two billion people live in fragile and conflict-affected states, according to the WHO, which also reports that 80% of its humanitarian workload and 70% of disease outbreaks it addresses occur in these volatile settings. Additionally, fragile and conflict-affected regions account for 80% of epidemic outbreaks, half of all deaths in children under five, and over a third of maternal mortality. Conflict devastates health systems and poses an enourmous threat to public health. The use of different weapons, for example, contaminates water sources, degrades air quality and renders land unsafe and unproductive. Yet, in these fragile settings, health provision can act as a catalyst for peacebuilding. In an increasingly unstable world, examining the intersection of armed conflict and health—and the potential of health initiatives to foster peace—is more important than ever. This course explores these critical intersections by discussing the theoretical foundations of health and peace discussions, examining case studies from around the globe, and analyzing the work of local and international health agencies in conflict areas. The course covers both structural barriers to healthcare in conflict zones and effective local practices that address health emergencies arising from violence. |
| Learning objectives | Following this course students will: - Understand the relationship between health and peace by examining the mutual impacts of armed conflict and health, and how health provision can contribute to peacebuilding initiatives. - Analyze the global impact of armed conflict on public health, including the effects on health systems, disease outbreaks, child and maternal mortality, and epidemic response in conflict-affected areas. - Evaluate case studies from various conflict zones to gain insights into practical interventions and responses by global health agencies within challenging contexts. - Assess local health-related practices that address violence-induced health emergencies, focusing on adaptive strategies and their effectiveness in mitigating health crises in conflict zones. |
| Bibliography | Brennan, R., et al. (2024, November). In the line of fire: Protecting health in armed conflicts. World Health Organization. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/health-workforce/hwp/in-the-line-of-fire-(1).pdf Garry, S., & Checchi, F. (2020). Armed conflict and public health: Into the 21st century. Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England), 42(3), e287–e298. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdz095 Haar, R. J., Read, R., Fast, L., et al. (2021). Violence against healthcare in conflict: A systematic review of the literature and agenda for future research. Conflict and Health, 15, 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-021-00372-7 Martineau, T., et al. (n.d.). Leaving no one behind: Lessons on rebuilding health systems in conflict and crisis-affected states. BMJ global health, 2(2), e000327. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000327 Oestericher, B., Taha, M., & Ahmadi, B. (2024, April). Mental health and violent conflict: A vicious cycle. United States Institute of Peace. https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/04/mental-health-and-violent-conflict-vicious-cycle Percival, V. (2014). Health systems and gender in post-conflict contexts: Building back better? Conflict and Health, 8, Article 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1505-8-19 Physicians for Human Rights. (2025). Abandoned in crisis: The impact of U.S. global health funding cuts in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) [Research brief]. https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/abandoned-crisis-impact-us-global-health-funding-cuts-democratic-republic-congo World Health Organization. (2020). Health financing policy and implementation in fragile and conflict-affected settings: Synthesis of evidence and policy recommendations. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/978-92-4-000351-4 |
| Comments | This course is intended for people interested in the interdisciplinarities between health and conflicts, but it's very welcoming to practitioners and people who are curious and want to engage in such an actual and recurring topic on global health and world politics. The course is offered by PhD candidates from the fields of Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Peace and Conflict Studies, with work experience in conflict-affected areas in Africa. |
| Admission requirements | This course is open to any students interested in health and conflicts. No specific background is required. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 16.09.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 23.09.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 30.09.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 07.10.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 14.10.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 21.10.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 28.10.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 04.11.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 11.11.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 18.11.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 25.11.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 02.12.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 09.12.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Tuesday 16.12.2025 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 105 |
| Modules |
Module: Conflicts and Peacebuilding (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Module: Fields: Governance and Politics (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Fields: Public Health and Social Life (Master's degree program: African Studies) Specialization Module Global Europe: Global Ageing and Health (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Specialization Module Global Europe: Peace and Conflict Studies (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Students are asked to actively participate and contribute to the discussions. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Zentrum für Afrikastudien |