CRITICAL REVIEWS

2 reviews / 5 points each

Students can get up to 10 points for activity-in-class by writing a critical review. The
first review is of one chapter from the book Chandler & Sisk (2013). For the second
review students are required to propose one or several texts. In order to find texts
make use of Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) by searching for potential texts
using keywords based on personal interest. Texts are selected/confirmed jointly by
students and dr. Kapidzic during office hours or via email.

The reviews are presented in front of class (one-minute-presentations).

WRITING A CRITICAL REVIEW: SOME BASIC POINTS

The purpose of a critical review is to summarize and evaluate a text, in our case a
book chapter. Writing the critical review usually requires you to read the selected text
in detail and to also read texts so far discussed in class (from the reader) so that you
can present a fair and reasonable evaluation of the selected text.

To be critical does not mean to criticize in a negative manner. Rather it requires you
to question the information and opinions in a text and present your evaluation or
judgment. By evaluating or judging you decide on the strengths and weaknesses of a
text in relation to it's content, purpose, evidence, and structure.

STRUCTURE OF A CRITICAL REVIEW

The critical review should be 2 pages long (12 font, 1.5 line spacing). It should
NOT INCLUDE a cover page, table of contents, literature list or tables and
figures.

The structure should include: 1) an introduction; 2) a summary; and 3) a critique

with conclusion
 The INTRODUCTION is usually one paragraph that announces the author(s) and
the title, and briefly explains the topic of the text. Present the aim of the text and
summarize the main finding or key argument. Conclude the introduction with a
brief statement of your evaluation of the text. This can be a positive or negative
evaluation or, as is usually the case, a mixed response.

In the SUMMARY you should present the key points along with a limited number
of examples. You can also briefly describe how the text is organized and you may
briefly explain the authors purpose/intentions throughout the text. The summary
should make up about a half of the critical review.

The CRITIQUE should be a balanced discussion and evaluation of the strengths,

weakness and notable features of the text. Include a paragraph of positive
aspects and another of negative. If your critique is more positive, then present the
negative points first and the positive last. If your critique is more negative, then
present the positive points first and the negative last. If it is mixed you could begin
by stating what is good about the idea and then concede and explain how it is
limited in some way. You can also include recommendations for how the text can
be improved. CONCLUDE with a very short paragraph restating your overall
opinion of the text.

IMPORTANT TECHNICAL DETAILS

The review should be printed out and handed in after class on the day of the
presentation. Alternatively it can be sent via email the day before class.

Reviews are PRESENTED IN FRONT OF CLASS (VERY BRIEFLY) in about 1-2

minutes. Focus on presenting the key points and topics of the text; mention it's
strengths and weaknesses; and conclude the presentation with your overall
opinion.

The reviews and presentations are voluntary and not a class requirement. If you
do not write a review you (only) loose 10 points from the 30 for activity-in-class.
FURTHER RESOURCES

More information on the structure of a critical review:

https://student.unsw.edu.au/structure-critical-review

More information on general criteria for evaluating texts (VERY USEFUL)

https://student.unsw.edu.au/some-general-criteria-evaluating-texts
CHANDLER & SISK (2013) CHAPTER REVIEW ASSIGNMENTS AND DATES

Thursday, 9 March
Emir Porianin: Chapter 4. Elites and statebuilding
Andrea Popovi: Chapter 14: Statebuilding through security sector reform
Ana Koo: Chapter 3: Gender and statebuilding
Dulisa Otuzbir: Chapter 13: United Nations peacekeeping and the irony of
statebuilding

Thursday, 16 March
Alem Hamzi: Chapter 21: Elections and statebuilding after civil war: Lurching
towards legitimacy
Adna Subai: Chapter 2: Corruption and statebuilding
Laura Markovi: Chapter 12: United Nations constitutional assistance in
statebuilding
Dino Bajraktarevi: Chapter 9: History repeating? Colonial, socialist, and
liberal statebuilding in Mozambique

Thursday, 30 March
Amina Hadimuhovi: Chapter 32: Age and fragility: The challenges of building
peaceful and effective states
Almedina Kulovac: Chapter 26: State building after victory: Uganda, Ethiopia,
Eritrea, and Rwanda
Vekas Rahimi: Chapter 11: Failed statebuilding versus peace formation
Selim Becirbegovic: Chapter 29: EU police missions

Thursday, 6 April
Dino Husic: Chapter 15: Liberia: Security sector reform
Muhamed ehovi: Chapter 28: Statebuilding in Palestine: Caught between
occupation, realpolitik, and the liberal peace
Irma abanovi: Chapter 30: EU statebuilding through good governance
Nedim Kahrimanovi: Chapter 10: The 'failed-state' effect: Statebuilding and
state stories from the Congo
Denita Turali: Chapter 17: Natural resource governance and hybrid political
orders
Alija Karaveli: Chapter 25: 'Liberal' statesbuilding in Afghanistan

Thursday, 13 April
 Adna Pai: Chapter 5: Regulatory statebuilding and the transformation of the
state
Zehra Bali: Chapter 24: Iraq: US approaches to statebuilding in the twenty-
first century
Davor Tunji: Chapter 6: Hiding in plain sight: The neglected dilemma of
nationalism for statebuilding
Nedla Osmanbegovi: Chapter 19: Political economy of post-conflict
statebuilding in Central America
Elvedina ajdin: Chapter 7: Statebuilding, civil society, and the privilege of
difference
Melika Muminovi: Chapter 31: The Security Council, R2P, and statebuilding
Strahinja Savi: Chapter 16: Maintaining the police-military divide in policing
peace
Samira iri: Chapter 27: Post-statebuilding and the Australian experience in
Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands

CHAPTERS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW

The following chapters are still unassigned for review. Send me an email if you wish
to review one of these chapters. Taken from the book: Chandler, David & Timothy D.
Sisk (Ed.). Routledge Handbook of International Statebuilding. London: Routledge,
2013.

Chapter 18: The political economy of statebuilding: Rents, taxes, and perpetual
dependency
Other readings in consultation with Damir Kapidi