PO2NEP: Negotiating Peace

Module code: PO2NEP

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Harmonie Toros, email: h.toros@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 26 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This course introduces students to the key practices of negotiation and mediation via in-class simulations, lectures, and seminars. The module examines some of the key approaches to negotiation (positional bargaining, principled negotiation) and mediation (power mediation, facilitation, narrative mediation) while learning specific skills essential to good negotiation and mediation (active listening, reframing). The module culminates with a whole-class simulation focusing on a complex international conflict. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify and evaluate the main approaches to negotiation and mediation.
2. Identify key skills used in negotiation and mediation and develop the capacity to use these skills in different forms of negotiation and mediation.
3. Apply theoretical frameworks to a range of case studies, synthesising ideas from a range of sources.
4. Assess the effects of negotiation and mediation choices in international conflicts.

Module content

The module will address topics including:

• Approaches to conflict, including conflict management, resolution and transformation
• Key skills in negotiations: Active listening and reframing
• Negotiation approaches: bargaining and principled negotiation
• Negotiation simulation
• Mediation approaches: power mediation, facilitation, and narrative mediation
• Mediation Simulation
• Prisoner’s Dilemma Simulation

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught through lectures, seminars and large group simulations. Seminar activities will range in topic and across weeks. They may include small and large-group discussions, small group simulations, case study analysis, and formative presentations. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass the module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will be asked to present their Conflict Resolution Plan in seminars to review feedback from teaching staff and peers ahead of the submission of their Assessment 2.

Reassessment

Additional costs