The course on "Theory of Conflict Resolution" (CTRC) aims to promote theoretical and practical knowledge about a field of research that has been little academically and scientifically addressed in Portugal: Conflict Resolution, from the perspective of international security, intending, although in a limited way, to make up for the insufficient training offer existing in Portugal in this area.
Individualizing itself, at the beginning of the 20th century, as an autonomous body of knowledge, Conflict Resolution became a complex, scientifically interdependent domain. The 20th/21st-century conflicts revealed a special capacity to threaten stability and peace on a global scale.
Fortunately, we are not unarmed to face the organized violence and social chaos caused by those conflicts. Scholars in the social sciences and decision-makers with responsibilities in international policy matters have developed a body of knowledge to inhibit the potential for organized aggression by states or at least significantly reduce it.
The Management and Resolution of International Conflicts, of increasing complexity, cannot be sympathized with simplistic and superficial approaches based only on intuition or the mediator's bold judgments or luck. Its effectiveness is increasingly the result of thorough preparation and systematic knowledge acquisition.
Thus, this course aims to provide students with theoretical tools that allow them, on the one hand, to analyze the different conflicts rigorously and, on the other hand, to act as practitioners in the various professional situations in which they may become involved.