I have read my students' portfolios, a broad variety of assignments. However, some notions are shared by most students:
- They realised how complicated and complex peace is as a concept. Much more complicated than they thought.
- They realised that the meaning and means of peace depend on its specific context.
- They conclude that peace has to be created and worked for, not only once but continuously. It is a never ending task.
#HistoricalPeaceStudies #History #Histodons #AcademicChatter
At our roundtable this morning we discussed the possibilities, challenges and limits of conducting historical peace studies in a nordic perspective. We had a informative and inspiring discussion.
I have for a habit to offer my distant students voluntary group meetings once a week during teaching periods. They may come and join, meet their course mates and me, ask questions, share thoughts. A student, former army member, joint today's meeting and confessed that my course on historical peace studies forced him out of his comfort zone (military and military history) and that he appreciates it. - This made my day.
Last week I asked my students to read the one chapter on peace in Hugo Grotius's work On the law of War and Peace. Students should also comment on what surprises/puzzles them when they read this text.
Most of them are amazed how modern Grotius's thoughts still are.
#Peace #PeaceHistory #HistoricalPeaceStudies #History #academicTeaching #AcademicChatter
I co-edit an edited volume about early modern Nordic peace. Regardless the great contributions of the authors in terms of content, I am always surprised how difgicult it is for most academics to apply style sheets. This is especially true for those who are nitpicking when it comes to the work of others and especially students.
Style sheets are not voluntary or for cherry-picking.
#AcademicChatter #LifeOfTheEditors #HistoricalPeaceStudies #EarlyModern #History
This week we focus on ideals and values of peace from Antiqutiy to the Colombia peace agreement.
#Peace #HistoricalPeaceStudies #History #academicTeaching #AcademicChatter
Last week I asked my students to conduct written group discussions on definitions of peace. I provided them with texts covering definitions of peace from antiqutiy to the 20th century. Each group member had to summarise one text. Thereafter they should compare these different definitions. One student concluded that peace developed from being a breathing space between fights to a complete gym programme. I like this picture very much.
As this course is taught online only, I have scheduled a voluntary meeting with my students once a week. No pre-registration needed. They may come with their ideas, thoughts and questions or just for listening to the others.
These meetings are very spontaneous in character as I do not know in advance whom I meet or what we are going to discuss. But I like this not plannable occassions very much.
#HistoricalPeaceStudies #history #histodons #UniversityTeaching #AcademicChatter
To check that my students have read the course syllabus I hide a minor assignment in it: the students should start a thread in the course plattform and post a picture of an animal (chosen by me). Today the first peace dove has landed.
#HistoricalPeaceStudies #Peace #history #Histodons #AcademicChatter #UniversityTeaching
In about 30 min I am going to kick off this year's summer course in historical peace studies. I really look forward to meeting the students (although I do not know how many of them will join the introduction due to technical problems with the university's teaching plattform) and discussing concept of peace in different times and contexts with them.
Dorothée Goetze