Overview

COORDINATION: Paula Duarte Lopes


SUBJECT AREA | OBJECTIVES

SUBJECT AREA

The Doctoral Programme in International Politics and Conflict Resolution focuses on the interdisciplinary study of international politics, and is oriented towards advanced competency training in reading contemporary international politics, with special emphasis on studying the dynamics of international strife, be it from the viewpoint of causes and signs of emerging conflicts, or from the viewpoint of theoretical and technical instruments for conflict resolution, thus endeavouring to combine the agendas of research in conflict studies and those of peace studies. The programme seeks to develop specialized knowledge of contemporary international conflicts, and an understanding of available tools for the post-cold war world.

The Doctoral Progamme in International Relations – International Politics and Conflict Resolution started in 2004-2005 and was accredited by the Agência para a Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior (A3ES) in 2020 for 6 years. The Programme is offered on a biennial basis, opening therefore a new edition every two years. The 2015/2016, 2017/18 and 2019/20 editions were/are funded by FCT.

OBJECTIVES

The Programme aims to respond to the need for cadres and resources by providing the up-to-date and in-depth knowledge indispensable for an appropriate approach to the current world scenario, which is considerably more complex than that moulded by the Cold War. To this end, it is framed within a markedly interdisciplinary context, with deep conviction in the internationalisation of teaching. Further, this Doctoral Programme is integrated in the European network, Caspian, with leading universities in this area, in a proposal which represents innovation in Portuguese academic life and which sets out to confirm University of Coimbra as a pole of reference in the study and debate of International Relations.

"This PhD is a benchmark within the critical approaches to IR and Peace Studies. Moreover, it has a feature that makes it exceptional: faculty and students are defined by multidisciplinarity, but, above all, by academic rigor, passion and respect, essential ingredients for a fruitful guidance."

Judith Jordà Frias, 2nd year (Catalonia)

"The possibility of experiencing/hearing contrasting "worlds/voices" that merge and/or complement the process-building of critical and encompassing knowledge is one of the aspects that has fascinated me the most in my path at CES and in the Doctoral Program in International Politics and Conflict Resolution."

Mário Elisandro Correia Gonçalves, all but dissertation (Cape Verde)

"I chose CES for its research diversity. I felt it could be a place to grow academically and allow me to contribute in a meaningful way. The research centre is a meeting point of the world where diversity goes far beyond the range of subjects and study, but also provides a global community of people who are passionate in contributing to an active learning space."

Natalie Shobana Ambrose, all but dissertation (Malaysia)