Ireland: Civil Society and the Peace Process

Dates for WT2010: January 5-17, 2010

BSOS 388V, 2 credits

Despite long standing conflicts between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, members of civil society organizations and others have been working towards building sustainable peace. The May 2007 agreement of Protestant and Catholic political parties to jointly govern Northern Ireland, a truly historic event, was due in part to their efforts.

This two-credit course (BSOS 388V) will  introduce students to civil society and the peace process in Ireland, past and present, by learning about contemporary history, politics, and culture of the Emerald Isle.  They will also gain first hand knowledge of some of Ireland's current societal issues by participating in community service projects in Galway, Dublin, or Belfast, the cities visited in this course.

Faculty Director

Dr. Sue Briggs is the Director of the CIVICUS Living and Learning Program. She teaches courses, plans service opportunities, and coordinates experiential opportunities for CIVICUS students that deal with civil society, citizenship, community building in a diverse society, leadership, and community service learning.