Course Overview: Conflict Transformation in South Africa

January 8-23, 2026

This two-week immersive course provides a critical examination of South Africa’s post-apartheid journey, viewing it through the lens of structural and interpersonal violence. Rooted in the principles of conflict transformation, our approach is place-based and dialogic, designed to engage you with diverse stakeholders across urban and rural communities. You will analyze the political economy of inequality and explore how history, governance, and economic structures continue to shape patterns of conflict and exclusion.

The course is divided into two distinct parts:

Week 1: Johannesburg – The Legacy of Apartheid and Urban Inequality

The first week will be spent in Johannesburg, the vibrant heart of South Africa, where you’ll engage with the enduring legacy of apartheid. This portion of the course will help you appreciate the historical context that influences the health and development of the nation today. Through site visits to key historical locations, seminars, and group discussions, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of how historical events and policies have contributed to modern-day urban inequality and violence. You will analyze the effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing these disparities, while also identifying where community-based efforts offer models for social change.

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Week 2: Richards Bay & Mpilonhle – Grassroots Solutions and Youth Empowerment

In the second week, the focus shifts to contemporary solutions and grassroots efforts. We will travel to the rural community of Richards Bay to partner with Mpilonhle, a local non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of youth. You will participate in a hands-on training experience with Mpilonhle, gaining practical insight into how a community-based organization addresses social and health challenges, from HIV/AIDS prevention to digital literacy. This direct engagement will allow you to see firsthand how community-based efforts can serve as powerful models for social change in a post-conflict environment.

By the end of the course, you will be equipped with key analytical tools and skills in policy analysis, appreciative inquiry, and program design, preparing you to engage more effectively with justice and conflict transformation both in South Africa and globally.

Course Objectives

• Appreciate the historical context of South African society and its influence on the health and development of its citizens and institutions today
• Explore how history and governance have shaped patterns of violence, inequality, and exclusion, and how policies and programs have attempted—sometimes successfully, sometimes not—to address these issues.
• Examine policies and history from an appreciative inquiry lens, seeking the places where resilience, agency and innovation stand out alongside injustice, struggle, and violence
• Analyze the political economy of transformation, spatial apartheid, and the policy mechanisms designed to reduce violence and inequality
• Evaluate South Africa’s legislative and institutional responses to conflict, as well as the social and structural factors that continue to shape contemporary violence, conflict, and transformation
• Synthesize lessons learned on conflict transformation from the South Africa case

Intercultural Competence (2 units)

• Attend all sessions
• Draft 3-5 page (single-spaced) Intercultural Competence (ICC) reflection that also covers Conflict Transformation reflection prompts. Drafted in the first person
• Due February 20

Governance, Policy, and Development (3 units)

• Attend all sessions
• Draft 5-7 page paper on topic covered in course (student selects topic)
• Draft 1-2 page Conflict Transformation reflection using discussion prompts
• Present for 15 minutes upon return during panel presentations. Presentations will be scheduled for a time that works for all students. Pre-recorded presentations will also be accepted
• Due February 20

Intercultural Competence (4 units)

• Attend all sessions in country.
• Draft 6-8 page ICC essay that also covers Conflict Transformation prompts. Paper should include section (1-2 pages) on one ICC/CT topic related to the course content that draws on at least 3 outside sources (articles, books, etc.)
• Present for 20-30 minutes during panel presentations upon return to the US. Presentations will be scheduled at a time that works for all students. Pre-recorded presentations will also be accepted
• Due February 20

Academic Credit

Students are required to take the course for either 2 or 4 units of Intercultural Competence (ICC) credit or 3 units of International Policy and Development credit.

Conflict Transformation

Students will reflect on conflict transformation approaches and concepts throughout the course. This text is a summary of the required reflection for a course on conflict transformation. It outlines the topics students must address in their written assignment after their experience in South Africa.

Key Points for the Reflection

Self-Awareness: Students must reflect on how their personal perspectives on international development have changed as a result of their time in South Africa.

Macro-Level Analysis: The assignment requires an analysis of the development challenges and opportunities in South Africa.

Interdisciplinary Approaches to Conflict Transformation: Students are asked to choose at least three specific prompts to explore the intersection of different fields and conflict transformation.