4.0

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This course will teach you two things. First, you will learn how to effectively frame, implement, and present a policy report or brief. In other terms, you will learn how to convince the decision-maker that your solution is the solution. Second, you will apply these insights to the complex topic of conflicts, elaborating and presenting proposals for solutions to past and current conflict situations. We will review together the theory and real-world evidence surrounding the question: why do agents fight? We’ll analyse conflict at every level, i.e. nations, ethnic groups, religions, villages, and gangs, discussing the common roots behind apparently different types of violent events. Then, we will study what we can do about this, making practical proposals to answer the question: how can we decrease violence? We will start with game theory - the science of strategy - and introduce economics, comparative politics, international relations, and other fields. To answer this question, you will work in groups and train on how to effectively convey your analysis in a non-technical way to policymakers and public executives. You will engage in role-playing scenarios where you will assume the role of economic advisors (to a Prime Minister, a President, a UN decision-maker, etc.) and be asked to provide evidence-based and effective recommendations.