PASSIA Training Program - on

Ireland And Palestine- Divided Countries United by History

Oct. 10, 2004 - Oct. 14, 2004

PASSIA Office, Ramallah

Course Outline

Introduction

The PASSIA seminar on Ireland and Palestine – Divided Countries United By History aims at providing Palestinian participants with the following:

an introduction to the history, society, and political system of the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland;
an increased ability to analyze the concepts, processes and terminology of conflict resolution as they apply to the cases of Ireland and Palestine;
the ability to understand and analyze Ireland 's negotiation process as well as its international relations and foreign policy positions, especially toward the Middle East region, the peace process, and the Palestinians.

Application Requirements

Palestinian candidates are now invited to apply for this seminar. The program is designed for participants who have an international relations component to their work requirements and wish to enhance their skills and knowledge. Normally, the applicant holds a BA degree or its equivalent. Non-graduates with a relevant experience are also welcome to apply. Applicants must be able to commit themselves full-time throughout the required period and to undertake preparatory reading and written work. A good knowledge of written and spoken English is essential.

Program Structure and Content

The seminar will be conducted by leading Irish scholars and experts and is structured as follows:

Preparation. Prior to the seminar the selected participants will be provided with a reading package, which will enable them to become familiar with the course material. Each participant will be required to write a brief paper on a subject related to the seminar. The presentation of this paper will be an integral part of the program.
Seminar. During the five-day intensive seminar local and international experts will establish a fundamental background on the history, society, and political system of the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland and provide a first hand insight into the Irish conflict and its negotiation process. In particular, seminar topics include the following:
- The partition of Ireland and its consequences.
- The constitutional development of independent Ireland - devolved government and control in Northern Ireland.
- Religion, ethnicity and nationalism in Ireland.
- Political actors, constituencies and party systems in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
- Irish foreign policy (with focus on the Middle East ).
- British policy and direct rule in Northern Ireland.
- The agenda of the Irish Government and Northern Ireland.
- The Anglo-Irish Agreement.
- The influence of the International Community, especially the US , the EU and the UN in the peace process.
- Current negotiations in Northern Ireland .

Conclusion. At the close of the seminar, certificates will be awarded by PASSIA to participants who successfully complete the program.

Procedure

Completed application forms must be submitted to PASSIA by Friday, 17 September 2004. PASSIA will then invite short-listed applicants to interviews. Applicants will be notified of the results and, upon selection, participants will have to confirm their commitment to full-time participation in writing as well as submit a letter from their employers confirming that they will be exempted from work during the required period.

The PASSIA Program on Training and Education in International Affairs will take place from 10-14 October 2004 at the PASSIA office in RAMALLAH. All candidates must commit themselves to participate fully during the entire period. There are no costs involved; accommodation will be provided for selected participants from remote locations upon their request.

Speakers

Niall Holohan

Head of the Irish Representative Office to the PA, Ramallah

Dr. John Logan

Department of History, University of Limerick

Prof. John Coakley

Department of Politics, National University of Ireland, Dublin

Prof. J.J. Lee

Professor of Irish Studies, New York University

Dr. Samir Awad

Professor of International Relations, Birzeit University

Mr. Alex Maskey

Sinn Fein member of Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly; member of Sinn Fein negotiating team; first Sinn Fein, Lord Mayor of Belfast

Prof. Tom Frazer

Provost, University of Ulster

Mr. Jack O’Connor

Public Servant working on North-South cross-border E.U. development project

Helen Lewis

Project Coordinator / NCORE, University of Ulster

Mr. Liam Maskey

Director, Intercom, (community reconciliation and development project)

Lecture Program

10 10 2004

9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Welcoming Address / Opening Remarks

Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of PASSIA, Jerusalem

Welcoming Address / Opening Remarks

10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Welcoming Address / Introduction

Niall Holohan, Head of the Irish Representative Office to the PA, Ramallah

Welcoming Address / Introduction

10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Break

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Break

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Economy & Society (The Development of a Modern Society & Economy, Land Reforms, Industrialisation & Commercial Development)

Dr. John Logan , Department of History, University of Limerick

Economy & Society (The Development of a Modern Society & Economy, Land Reforms, Industrialisation & Commercial Development)

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Lunch

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Lunch

1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Economy and Society, contd.

Dr. John Logan

Economy and Society, contd.

3 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Break

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Break

3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Participants' Assignments

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Participants' Assignments

11 10 2004

9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Ethnic Conflict And The Two-State Solution: The Irish Experience Of Partition

Prof. John Coakley, Department of Politics, National University of Ireland, Dublin

Ethnic Conflict And The Two-State Solution: The Irish Experience Of Partition

10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Break

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Break

10:45 a.m. - noon

Ireland - North and South - the UN and Other Global Bodies

Prof. John Coakley, Department of Politics, National University of Ireland, Dublin

Ireland - North and South - the UN and Other Global Bodies

noon - 1 p.m.

Lunch

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Lunch

1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Film: Michael Collins

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Film: Michael Collins

12 10 2004

9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Politics and Society in Modern Ireland : Media, Civic Society and Violence

Prof. J.J. Lee , Professor of Irish Studies, New York University

Politics and Society in Modern Ireland : Media, Civic Society and Violence

10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Break

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Break

10:45 a.m. - noon

Ireland Today - Political and Civic Culture in Contemporary Ireland

Prof. J.J. Lee , Professor of Irish Studies, New York University

Ireland Today - Political and Civic Culture in Contemporary Ireland

noon - 1 p.m.

Lunch

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Lunch

1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Ireland Today – contd.

Prof. J.J. Lee

Ireland Today – contd.

2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Break

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Break

2:45 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Conflict Resolution: Theories and Approaches

Dr. Samir Awad , Professor of International Relations, Birzeit University

Conflict Resolution: Theories and Approaches

13 10 2004

9:15 a.m. - noon

Session I- Violence Conflict Resolution and Media & Civil Society

Mr. Alex Maskey, Sinn Fein member of Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly; member of Sinn Fein negotiating team; first Sinn Fein, Lord Mayor of Belfast

Session I- Violence Conflict Resolution and Media & Civil Society

9:15 a.m. - noon

Session II - Partition experience, India, Ireland and Palestine

Prof. Tom Frazer, Provost, University of Ulster

Session II - Partition experience, India, Ireland and Palestine

noon - 1 p.m.

Lunch

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Lunch

1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Session III- European Funding Support for N.I. and Border countries.

Mr. Jack O’Connor, Public Servant working on North-South cross-border E.U. development project

Session III- European Funding Support for N.I. and Border countries.

1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Session III- Community Relations

Helen Lewis, Project Coordinator / NCORE, University of Ulster

Session III- Community Relations

1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Community Development and Peace Building

Mr. Liam Maskey, Director, Intercom, (community reconciliation and development project)

Community Development and Peace Building

14 10 2004

9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

The Peace Process 1990s to 2004

Niall Holohan, Head of the Irish Representative Office to the PA, Ramallah

The Peace Process 1990s to 2004

10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Break

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Break

10:45 a.m. - noon