136-272 Ethnic Nationalism and the Modern World

Note

Available as 136-372 at 3rd-year level.

Availability

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

None.

Contact

Subject Description

Ethnic nationalism is one of the most potent political movements in the world today, its force being experienced by all peoples in all parts of the word. From so-called tribalism to the more conventional ethnicity and ethnic nationalism, the constructions of identity in modern political circumstances involve special valuations of language, culture and tradition. As such, ethnicity is of special concern to anthropologists, especially in instances where anthropology becomes part of nationalist discourse. The course considers a variety of ethnic contexts from Africa, Europe and Australia to the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. It examines different approaches to nationalism, the formation and reproduction of ethnic boundaries, nationalism myths and historiography, colonialism and post-colonialism and the relationship between individual, state and nation in the modern world economy.

Assessment

Written work totalling 3000 words, and a two-hour examination.