Course Spotlight:
Tech, Social Media & Conflict
Dr. Joseph Bock, The Baker Institute Scholar in Residence
January 2025 - May 2025
In his inaugural year as Scholar in Residence at The Baker Institute, Dr. Joseph G. Bock—former Professor of International Conflict Management and founding Director of the School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development at Kennesaw State University—brought decades of expertise in humanitarian response, conflict resolution, and violence prevention to the Juniata College community.
In the Fall of 2025, he taught a course called Tech, Social Media & Conflict. This course explored the complex relationship between technology, social media, and conflict in contemporary society. Students examined how digital tools and platforms shaped, escalated, and potentially resolved conflicts worldwide. Through case studies and theoretical frameworks, the course covered topics such as misinformation, cyber warfare, the role of algorithms, social media's impact on public opinion, and the ethical responsibilities of tech companies. Students discussed digital media's influence on activism, political movements, and state and non-state actors in both democratic and authoritarian contexts.
This course featured a COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) component that connected students at Juniata College and the University of Ngozi in Burundi via Google Meet. Bock worked with his students to develop a conflict early warning and early response system for Burundi’s upcoming elections, utilizing tools such as Ushahidi for digital mapping, KoboToolbox for data collection, and FrontlineSMS for text-based communication. Below you can find the handbook that students drafted for this project:
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Dr. Bock is continuing this work through a Fulbright Specialist award from the U.S. Department of State, administered by World Learning. As part of the award, he will travel to the University of Ngozi in Burundi this summer to support its peace education initiatives.
International Symposiums
More information will arrive in Summer of 2025
Past Symposiums
- 2022 - The War in Ukraine: Global Perspectives - 6 speakers and 150 participants
- 2023 - The New Cold War?: Strategic Competition and the Future World Order - 7 speakers and 350 participants
- 2024 - Toward Environmental Justice: Transition to a Sustainable Future - 6 speakers and 270 participants
Symposium Committee
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Zia Haque
Director of The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies; Assistant Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies
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Kaitlyn Granger
Event Manager; Program Coordinator, The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies
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Amr Abdalla
Master of Ceremonies; Fellow, The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies
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Explore our Annual Reports & Videos:
- Baker Institute YouTube Channel
- 2022-2023 Baker Institute Annual Report
- 2021-2022 Baker Institute Annual Report
- 2020-2021 Baker Institute Annual Report
- 2019-2020 Baker Institute Annual Report