2007/2008 COURSE CATALOGUE

NAIROBI, KENYA

Course: MARY AFST 520: Justice and Peace in East Africa

Course Description:
This course explores the concepts of justice and relates them to democracy and human rights from an African perspective. It seeks to demonstrate that human rights are the rationale for the quest for justice, peace, reconciliation and democracy in society. By mirroring the values and structures for human rights, democracy, justice and peace in Africa (particularly East Africa) against African traditional norms, values and peace within the proper context of the modern state in Africa. 

Course Objectives:

• Expose students to a multi-dimensional understanding of the concepts of justice, peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights. 

• To enable students appreciate the deep African heritage on issues of peace, justice, reconciliation, human rights and conflict resolution. 

• Provide students with a rich encounter with both theoretical and practical applications of African values in their everyday lives. 

• Give students an opportunity to gather information on African cultural values directly from the field so that they can test their findings against popular/existing literature. 

Course Outline

I Human Rights as a Basis for Justice and Peace

1. Introduction to human rights

2. Philosophical, historical and anthropological foundations of human rights 

3. African conceptions to human rights 

4. The conceptual linkage: human rights, justice and peace

5. The African human rights system: a critical analysis 

6. The relevance of the modern international human rights discourse to Africa. 

7. Human rights in East Africa: problems, challenges and prospects. 

II Justice 

1. The concept of justice

2. Theories of justice 

3. justice as entitlement

4. Distributive, retributive, corrective/restorative justice

5. African traditional values/concepts of justice.

6. Contemporary issues concerning justice in Eastern Africa

III Peace and Reconciliation 

1. Causes and effects of armed of armed 

IV The Question of Democracy in Eastern Africa

1. Kenya's vocation to democracy
2. The values of democracy
3. The requirements for democracy
4. Democracy and African Traditional values
5. The winners and losers relationship
6. The situation in Kenya
7. Conclusion

V Perspectives on Human Rights

Hierarchy and generation of rights

a. Political and cultural rights
b. The right of social and economic well-being
c. The right to live without serious threat to the environment which sustains life

VI Human Rights

VII The Area of Ethnic Tension

VIII The Social, Political, Economic, Cultural, Religious and Other Conflicts we are Experiencing in the Country at Present at the:

* Community level
* National level
* Religious level

IX Possible Responses to the Intra-national Conflicts

X Situation of Domestic Violence in Nairobi Slums

XI Typical Styles of Conflict Management

XII Dialogue, Negotiation & Mediation

XIII Biblical Understanding of Justice

XIV Biblical Understanding of Peace

XV Ecumenical Perspective: Justice & Peace

XVI Repentance & Forgiveness

Conclusion: Final Summaries

Bibliography

Assefa, Hizkias. Humanitarian Activity and Peacemaking: Challenge for the NGOs Min. Nairobi, Kenya.

Ateek, Naim Stifan. (2001). Justice and Only Justice. New York: Orbis.

Augsburger, David W. (1981). Caring Enough to Forgive: True Forgiveness. Scottsdale: Herald Press. 

Byrne, Tony. (1988). Working for Justice and Peace: A Practical Guide. Ndola: Mission Press. 

Commonwealth Secretariat. (1991). Human Rights. London: Commonwealth Secretariat. 

Deng, Francis M. (1998). African Reckoning: A Quest for Good Governance. Washington D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. 

Dorr, Donal. (1991). The Social Justice Agenda: Justice, ecology, power and the Church. New York: Orbis. 

Freire, Paulo. (1970). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. New York: The Continuum Publishing Company.

Friesen, Duane K.  (1984). Christian Peacemaking and International Conflict. Ontario: Herald Press.

Frost, Brian. (1998). Struggling to Forgive: Nelson Mandela and South Africa's search for reconciliation. London: Harper Collins Publishers. 

Getui, Mary N. & Peter Kanyandago. (Eds.). (1999). From Violence to Peace: A Challenge for African Christianity. Nairobi: Acton Publishers. 

Johnson, David M. (1986). Justice and Peace Education. New York: Orbis. 

Kenya Human Rights Commission, Quarterly Human Rights Report. Vol. 1, no. 4, October, November and December 1999.

Magesa, Laurenti & Nthamburi Zablon. (1999). Democracy and Reconciliation. Nairobi: Acton Publishers. 

Muller, Annetta. (1988). Proverbs on Peace, Justice, Reconciliation and War. Nairobi: 

OAU. (1988).The African Charter on Human and People's Rights. OAU.