King's College London

Development and security are inextricably linked, yet all too often, these topics are addressed separately by both academics and policymakers. This Conflict, Security and Development MA is a unique, globally recognised course that does the opposite. It takes a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to teach you the dynamic ways in which conflict, insecurity and development interact, thus helping you to develop a full understanding of these issues.

This Conflict, Security and Development MA is a practical, policy-focused master’s that’s taught by policy-engaged teachers who are active researchers. This means you’ll learn from their own field-grounded analysis, instead of being educated just by textbooks.

You will learn about the theories underpinning the connection between security and development, then use this knowledge to consider how it actually works on the ground. This will teach you how to apply theories to real-life scenarios.

The MA in Conflict, Security and Development takes a thematic approach to its curriculum. You’ll begin by studying the theories of development before learning about the root causes of conflict and how countries tip over into it. You’ll learn about the dynamics of war itself, discovering what happens in the aftermath of conflict and during conflict resolution and the peace-keeping process. You will also think about the state-building process, how the UN deals with the fall-out of conflict, including efforts to disarm, demobilise and reintegrate ex-combatants.

You will take a population-centred approach to explore how people on the ground experience conflict, and

what policymakers can do. You’ll consider how factors like gender and race influence people’s experience of conflict, and examine big thematic policy issues, like the global health implications of insecurity, the role of private military companies, or what aid donors really want from countries in conflict.

Because this course is taught within the world-renowned War Studies department, you will get the opportunity to choose from a varied list of interdisciplinary modules. You’ll find yourself reading across politics, anthropology, sociology, economics, geography, history, law, and beyond. Some of the modules you could choose to study include Comparative Civil Wars, Approaches to Understanding Violence and Atrocity in Civil Wars, Russia and the World, and Gender in International Politics and Security.

As a Conflict, Security and Development MA student, you’ll also get the opportunity to enhance your experience through extracurricular activities. For example, you could contribute to the student-led annual conference, or attend the speaker series that’s seen previous guests including Kofi Anan, Pulitzer Prize-winners and former UN Special Representatives of the Secretary-General speak.

You’ll graduate from this Conflict, Security and Development MA with an analytical and empirically informed understanding of the linkages between issues of security and development in contemporary international relations.