IR 315: Nationalism and Ethnicity in World Politics
Fall 2016 (Version Aug.22)
Class Meetings: MWF 12:00-12:50 PM;VKC 156
Professor: Evis Mezini
Email:
Office Hours: M/W 2:00-3:00PM, or by appointment
Office Location: V357A
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This syllabus is current as of the version date above. It is subject to change. You will be notified in class and/or by e-mail whenever the syllabus is updated. The current version of the syllabus will always be posted on Google Drive
This course explores the concepts of ethnicity and nationalism using a comparative perspective. Drawing upon various theories from political science, sociology, anthropology, and economics we will examine how ethnicity and nationalism are defined and how they in turn affect important aspects of our global society. Theoretical readings will be supplemented with case studies from developed and developing countries across different regions of the world and time periods.
The course is divided in two parts. In the first part we will explore what ethnicity is through the lenses of different theoretical frameworks. Then we will unpack its effects on conflict, political participation, economic performance, intolerance, and trust. In the second part of the course, we will turn our attention to the factors that determine nationalism such as democratization, colonialism, and the media, to mention a few. We will conclude with a discussion on the effects of globalization on nationalism and the emergence of multiculturalism and post-nationalism.
Requirements
Students are expected to complete all assigned readings beforethe class for which they are assigned, and to arrive in class prepared to discuss that material. There will be pop-reading quizzes throughout the course of the semester.
There will be 2 presentations and 4 video reaction papers. Late reaction papers will be docked a letter gradeeach day they are late. Reaction papers later than this are not accepted. Course work will only be accepted in class and may not be handed in at other times. There will also be a midterm and a final.
Grading
Video Reaction Papers………………………….....20% (4@5% each)
Presentations ……………………………………...20% (2@10% each)
Midterm ……….………………………………….20%
Final ………………………………………………20%
Participation …………………………….………...10%
Pop-Reading Quizzes……………………………..10%
Video Reaction Papers
On those days we are discussing a video, you are expected to have watched the video prior to class. I will provide you with the links or the video itself at least a week before its discussion. You are also responsible for turning in a reaction paper on that video. The reaction paper is due the day of the discussion at the beginning of class. I will post on Google Drive the questions related to the reaction paper a week in advance.
Presentations
During the course of the semester you will present on specific topics. I will provide detailed instructions at the end of the first week of class.
Exams
The midterm and final are closed book. Both exams will be essay format. The questions in the exam will be selected from questions that you will be provided to you in the respective study guides. The final is not cumulative, and both exams will cover material from lecture, discussions, and the required readings/videos.
Participation
Attendance is mandatory. Please make sure you attend class because the class is structured in such a way that quite a bit of your grade depends on you being physically present.
During the semester, students are encouraged to bring in current events examples related to the themes and topics addressed in class. I will allocate some time at the beginning of class to this activity. In fact, this is a great way to help your class participation grade.
Pop-Reading Quizzes: Pop-Reading quizzes will be administered during the course of the semester. These quizzes are not hard and they are designed to test whether you did the reading, not whether you grasped every nuance. Do the reading and you should get the questions right. Please make sure you attend class because pop-quizzes cannot be made-up.
Readings
Readings will be posted on Google Drive. I try to adapt the pace and content of the course to your pace and interests. As a result, the syllabus and readings are subject to change. With that said, you will always be notified well in advance about these changes.
Reading before class is an important aspect of succeeding in this class. The class is small and if you do not participate it will affect the classroom dynamics and your experience as well. I am very conscientious about the amount of reading I assign for each meeting and I believe that less is more. I have kept the readings at around 20 pages for each meeting.
Course Site
This syllabus and all course materialswill be available on the course siteon Google Drive. The slides from lecture will be available on Google Drive as well. Whenever possible, I will post the slides before class. Reviewing the slides is not a substitute for attending lecture, and the slides will not include all the information covered in lecture, or all the material that will be on the exams.
Once I obtain the emails you wish to be contacted at, I will add you to Google Drive. After that you will have access to anything pertaining to the class on that site.
Grade Disputes
You may contest the grade on an exam/reaction paper up to 1 week after it is returned. If you believe that there has been an error on your exam/reaction paper, submit a written description of the error you believe occurred along with the exam/reaction paper. However, that means that the whole exam/reaction paper will be re-graded which can possibly result in a lower grade for the exam/reaction paper. Clerical errors and outright mistakes will be corrected; decisions about the amount of partial credit to give for an answer will not be re-visited.
Rules
Students who cheat on any type of coursework or an exam will receive an F in the course and the case will be referred to SJACs. All work (except exams) must be typed and follow the appropriate format and style noted in the instructions. All work will be collected at the beginning of class on the due date.
Please turn your cell phones off. Do not surf web or check email. No text messaging. Failure to comply with these rules will affect your participation grade.
Statement for Students with Disabilities
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is(213) 740-0776.
Statement on Academic Integrity
USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles.Scampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A: will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at:
Course Schedule
This schedule may change during the semester to reflect the needs of class. Changes may include adding or removing reading assignments. You will be notified promptly about any changes by an announcement in class and by e-mail.
PART I: ETHNICITY
Week 1 (August 22-26): What is Ethnicity and Ethnic Identity? The PrimordialistApproach to Ethnic Identity
Monday: Housekeeping and Introduction
Wednesday: Lecture (Reading on Google Drive)
Friday: Discussion (Reading on Google Drive)
Week 2 (August 28- September 2): The Constructivist Approach to Ethnic Identity
Monday: Lecture (Reading on Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading on Google Drive)
Friday: Presentations (Your turn)
Week 3 (September 5-September 9): Redefining Ethnicity
Monday: Labor Day….no class September 7
Wednesday: Lecture (Google Drive)
Friday: Discussion (Google Drive)
Week 4 (September 12-16): Instrumentalist Approaches to Ethnicity
Monday: Lecture (Reading Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading Google Drive)
Friday: Video…Watch video prior to class and discuss in class (Turn in Reaction Paper at the beginning of class)
Week 5 (September 19-23): Ethnicity and Conflict
Monday: Lecture (Reading Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading Google Drive)
Friday: Video…Watch video prior to class and discuss in class (Turn in Reaction Paper at the beginning of class)
Week 6 (September 25-September 30): Ethnicity, Intolerance and Trust
Monday: Lecture (Reading Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading Google Drive)
Friday: Presentations (Your turn)
Week 7 (October 3-7): Ethnicity, Voting and Economic Performance
Monday: Lecture (Reading Google Drive)
Wednesday: Review for Midterm
Friday: Midterm
PART II: NATIONALISM
Week 8 (October 10-14): What is nationalism? Patriotism vs. Nationalism
Monday: Lecture (Reading Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading Google Drive)
Friday: Video…Watch video prior to class and discuss in class (Turn in Reaction Paper at the beginning of class)
Week 9 (October 17-21): Nationalism—Competing Explanations for the Rise of Nationalism
Monday: Lecture (Reading on Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading on Google Drive)
Friday: Presentations (Your turn)
Week 10 (October 24-28): Nationalism, Top Down or Bottom UP?
Monday: Lecture (Reading on Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading on Google Drive)
Friday: Presentations (Your turn)
Week 11 (October 31-November-4): Civic, Ethnic, or Religious Nationalism?
Monday: Lecture (Reading on Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading on Google Drive)
Friday: Discussion (Reading on Google Drive)
Week 12 (November 7-11): Nationalism, Colonialism, and Democratization
Monday: Lecture (Reading on Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading on Google Drive)
Friday: Presentations (Your turn)
Week 13 (November 14-18): Nationalism, Citizenship, and Economics
Monday: Lecture (Reading on Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading on Google Drive)
Friday: Presentations (Your turn)
Week 14 (November 21-25): Nationalism and the Marketplace of Ideas
Monday: Video…Watch video prior to class and discuss in class (Turn in Reaction Paper at the beginning of class)
Thanksgiving…no class November 23 & 25
Week 15 (November 28-December 2): The End of Ethnic Identity and Nationalism?
Monday: Lecture (Google Drive)
Wednesday: Discussion (Reading Google Drive)
Friday: Review for Final Exam
Final Exam…TBA
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