FACULTY OF HUMANITIES, ARTS & HERITAGE

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SABAH

2016/2017
Summary of information on AS30803

Name of Course/Module: RELIGION, ETHNICITY AND CONFLICT/KONFLIK AGAMA DAN

ETNIK
Course Code: AS30803
Name(s) of academic staff: ASSOC. PROF. DR. MIKIO OISHI/ DR. AYESAH UY ABUBAKAR

1. Rationale for the inclusion of the course / module in the programme:

This course will discuss the emergence of social conflict, mainly involving religion and
ethnicity issues. It will provide a foundation on the theories of conflict. How do conflict
develop? Who are the actors in conflict? How is conflict managed and resolved? It will give
examples of cases of these types of conflict and discuss its dynamics and challenges.

2. Semester and Year offered: Semester 2/ Year 2016-2017

3. Total Student Learning Time Face to Face Total Guided and Independent
(SLT) Learning
L = Lecture L T P O
T = Tutorial Refer to
P = Practice
O = Other
4. Credit Value: 3
5. Prerequisite (if any): -
6. Learning outcomes:
At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:
1. To study and evaluate the emergence and behaviour of religion and ethnicity-
based social conflicts. (C6, P5, A5)
2. To develop the skills in critical thinking and problem solving of social conflicts.
(C6, P7, A5)
3. To equip the students a basic knowledge in conflict transformation as part of
the paradigm of conflict resolution. (C2, P4, A5)

7. Transferable Skills
1. Skills in critical thinking and problem solving
2. Communication and Interpersonal skills
3. Lifelong learning

8. Teaching-Learning and assessment strategy

Teaching Learning Strategy Assessment Strategy

Lectures/Tutorials 1) Individual essay writing/Logbook
2) Oral test
3) Group research and report

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 4) Group presentation and mini-
project
Seminar/Guest Speaker
Debate

9. Synopsis
The course will emphasize on the study of religion and ethnicity-based type of social
conflicts. Its main goal is to harness the knowledge, skills and attitude of the students in the
field of conflict resolution.

10. Mode of Delivery

Lecture
Tutorial
Student centered learning: essay writing, oral test, group research, field work/community
visits, presentation and project development.

11. Assessment Methods and Types

Assessments % PLO1 PLO2 PLO3 PLO4 PLO5 PLO6 PLO7 PLO8

Total 100

a. Individual 20 X
Logbook

b. Oral Test 20 X X X

c. Group 20 X X X
Research
Report

d. Group 40 X X X X
Research
Presentation
and Mini-
Project

12.
Mapping of the course/module to the Programme Aims
PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5
1. To study and evaluate the emergence and X X
behaviour of religion and ethnicity-based
social conflicts.

2. To develop the skills in critical thinking and X X X X

problem solving of social conflicts.

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13. Mapping of the course/module to the Programme Learning Outcomes

PLO1 PLO2 PLO3 PLO4 PLO5 PLO6 PLO7 PLO8

1. To study and evaluate the X X X X

emergence and behaviour
of religion and ethnicity-
based social conflicts.

2. To develop the skills in X X X X

critical thinking and
problem solving of social
conflicts.

Content outline of the course/module and the SLT per topic:

14.

1. Introduction to Conflict Studies and its Relevance to IR

2. Basic Conflict TheoriesDefinition, Types, Levels, Actors, Dynamics and Behaviour
3. Incompatibility Management
4. Three Processes of Conflict Management
5. Inter-Religious Dialogue
6. Autonomy as a Solution to Separatism
7. Case Studies: Aceh, Southern Thailand, Mindanao, Khmer Krom (Vietnam),
Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia
8. UDHR Freedom of Religion and Belief
9. Identity and Conflict in Southeast Asia
10. Conflict Transformation
11. Reconciliation

15. Main references supporting the course:

1) Ramsbotham, Woodhouse & Miall (2011) Contemporary Conflict Resolution

(Cambridge: Polity Press, 3rd Ed.)

2) Austin A., Fischer M., & Ropers N. (2004) Transforming Ethnopolitical Conflict
(Berlin: Berghof Center for Constructive Conflict Management)

3) Kamarulzaman A. (2006) Budaya Perdamaian Budaya Kita (Penang:SEACSN)

4) Lambang Trijono (ed.) (2004) The Making of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts in
Southeast Asia (Yogyakarta: CSPS Books)

5) Equal Rights Trust (2014) Equal only in name: The situation of the Rohingyas in
Malaysia (London: ERT)

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 6) Islam, Syed Serajul (2005) The Politics of Islamic Identity in Southeast Asia (US, UK:
Thomson)

7) Try, Ea Meng (2007) Reconciliation in Cambodia (Penang: SEACSN)

8) Askandar, Kamarulzamn (ed.) (2000) in Conflict and Conflict Management in

Southeast Asia, Journal of Malaysian Studies Vol. XVIII No. 1 & 2 June/December
2000 (Penang: Penerbit USM)

9) Bielfeldt, Heiner, Misperceptions of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Human

Rights Quarterly, Volume 35 No. 1, February 2013 (US, John Hopkins University
Press)

10) Oishi, M. (ed.) (2016) Contemporary Conflicts in Southeast Asia (Springer)

11) Azar, E. E. (1990) The Management of Protracted Conflict (Dartmouth Pub Co)

12) Burton, J. (ed.) (1990) Conflict: Human Needs Theory (Macmillan)

16. Other additional information:

Students are required to attend all lectures and tutorials, adhere to punctuality in
class, participate in class discussions and contribute to the group assignments.
Students must follow the deadline in the submission of assignments.
Information in this document is subject to change.

Attachment 1

Course schedule and topics:

Week Date Lecture Topic/References

1 Lecture: Tuesday, 14February Introduction to the course

2-4 pm Administrative rules
DKP Film showing (Ayesah & Mikio)

2 Lecture: Tuesday, 21 February Basic Conflict Theories (Mikio)

2-4 pm Definitions
DKP ? Types
Levels
Actors
Issues
Social Conflict

3 Lecture: Tuesday, 28 February Incompatibility Management (Mikio)

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 2-4 pm Party Elimination, Imposition, Legal
DKP ? Approach, Transformation, Manoeuvring
Western Approach & Eastern Approach
Tutorial Session:

4 Lecture: Tuesday, 7 March Three Processes of Conflict Management (Mikio)

2-4 pm Short-Term Crisis Management
DKP ? Mid-Term Relationship Management
Long-Term Incompatibility Management
Tutorial Session:

5 Lecture: Tuesday, 14 March Autonomy as a Solution to Separatism (Mikio)

Types
Tutorial Session: Functions
Challenges

6 Lecture: Tuesday, 21 March Inter-Religious Dialogue (Mikio + guest speaker:

Kriya Langputeh)
Tutorial Session:

7 Lecture: Tuesday, 28 March UDHR Freedom of Religion and Belief

Tutorial Session: (Ayesah)

ORAL TEST
ESSAY WRITING/LOGBOOK
DUE THIS WEEK

SEMESTER BREAK

8 Lecture: Tuesday, 11 April Identity and Conflict in Southeast Asia (Ayesah)

Tutorial Session: PREPARATIONS FOR THE GROUP

ORAL TEST FIELDWORK/RESEARCH

9 Lecture: Tuesday, 18 April Conflict Transformation (Ayesah)

Tutorial Session:
ORAL TEST

10 Lecture: Tuesday, 25 April Reconciliation ( Ayesah)

Tutorial Session:

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 ORAL TEST

11 Lecture: Tuesday,9 May Student-Centred Learning (Field Work +

Consultation)

Tutorial Session:

12 Lecture: Tuesday, 16 May Student-Centred Learning (Field Work +

Consultation)
Tutorial Session:

13 Lecture: Tuesday, 23 May GROUP PRESENTATION

(open to all program lecturers)

Tutorial Session:

14 Lecture: Tuesday, 16 May GROUP PRESENTATION

(open to all program lecturers)

Tutorial Session:

Attachment 2 (Additional) Individual Assignment: Essay Writing/Logbook

Instruction:
The students will select 4 current news and articles about conflicts that involve ethnic (2) and
religious issues (2). From these articles, they are tasked to analyse and discuss the following (1) roots
of the conflict (2) the actors involved (3) dynamics and behaviour of the conflict, and (4) identify the
possible ways for conflict resolution.

The news and articles should be pasted on the logbook/notebook, but the comments and discussion
should be handwritten legibly following the abovementioned criteria. This logbook is due on the last
class before the semester break. By the re-start of the semester, the students will be required to do
an oral exam based on their logbook requirement.

Attachment 3 (Additional)---Group Research and Presentation

Instruction:
The students will form into groups and conduct a research, including actual fieldwork, on a real life
conflict that can be found in the communities in Sabah or Sarawak. In the fieldwork, they will
conduct interviews and participant-observation methods as part of their data gathering. They can
also do a video documentation of this fieldwork. The research should include a conflict mapping and
analysis and provide proposals for conflict resolution. This will be presented in class as their FINAL
PROJECT/EXAMS.

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Judges from the Faculty will be invited to watch the group presentations.

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