DWA 235 Nationalism and Ethnicity

This course will explore nationalism and ethnicity from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. Nationalist and ethnic discourses have been central to political movements, rebellions, and revolutions. The passions and commitment of individual members in these movements often lead to political ideologies and war tactics that are violent, and which encompass entire communities. The class will concentrate on two theoretical perspectives; mainly the debates between primordialism and constructivism. Two cases from South/Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa will be analyzed.