Politics 192b
Theories of Nationalism
Bernard Yack
Olin-Sang 107
Office Hours Thursdays 10:30-12:00 (and by appointment)
736-2640,
This course addresses the major theoretical issues raised by nationalism’s unexpectedly strong and resilient hold on modern political life. What makes a nation, as opposed to other political communities? Why do nations rise to such political prominence in modern politics? What is the source of nationalism’s hold on us? What value should national ties have for us, especially when they compete with other things that we value? We will explore these issues with the help of a selection of classic and contemporary studies of nationalism. As a seminar, we will proceed through directed discussion, rather than lecture plus question and answer, so weekly preparation of reading assignments is essential.
Requirements
Students will write 2 medium length (10 pages) papers on assigned topics, the first due on October 29th, the second during the exam period. (Graduate students have the option of substituting a research paper – 25 pages or so – in place of these assignments.) You may develop your own topics for the papers, but you’ll need to consult with me to get the topic approved. In addition, attendance in the weekly seminars and preparation of the readings, with the aid of study questions, is a requirement of the course. Students will be required to prepare and turn in brief answers (2-3 pages) to study questions 3 times during the term, including twice before the due date of the first paper (October 29th).
Four Credit Course
Success in this 4 credit course is based on the expectation that will spend, on average, around 9 hours of study time per week in preparation for class (readings, discussion sections, preparation for exams, etc.).
Documented Disabilities
If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see Prof. Yack after class.
Cell phones and Laptops
Use of Cellphones in Class is not permitted. Laptop use during class is restricted to class-related activity.
Required Reading
The following books are available for purchase at the book store.
Allen Buchanan Secession: The Morality of Political Divorce (Westview)
Ernest Gellner, Nations and Nationalism (Cornell)
All other reading assignment are contained in a coursepack, which will be available for purchase at the first class.
Reserve Reading
The following books will be available on reserve in the library to consult when preparing papers or to explore the subject further.
Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities
Ronald Beiner (ed.), Theorizing Nationalism (a useful collection on nationalism and political
theory).
John Breuilly, Nationalism and the State
Margaret Canovan, Nationhood and Political Theory.
Craig Calhoun, Nationalism.
Walker Connor, Ethnonationalism
Eyal Chowers, The Political Philosophy of Zionism
Liah Greenfeld, Nationalism: Five Paths to Modernity
Samuel Huntington, Who Are We?
Elie Kedourie, Nationalism
R. McKim (ed.), The Morality of Nationalism
David Miller, On Nationality
Margaret Moore, The Ethics of Nationalism.
Margaret Moore (ed.), National Self-Determination and Secession
Martha Nussbaum et al, For Love of Country
Yael Tamir, Liberal Nationalism
Rebecca West, Black Lamb, Grey Falcon.
Bernard Yack, Nationalism and the Moral Psychology of Community
Seminar and Reading Schedule
1. September 1: Introduction
2. September 8: Moral Reactions to Nationalism
John Dunn, “Nationalism,” from Dunn, Western Political Theory in the Face of
the Future, Chapter 3.
J. S. Mill, Representative Government, Chapter 16.
Rebecca West, Black Lamb, Grey Falcon, 838-45.
Elie Kedourie, Nationalism, Chapter 6.
September 15: No Class – Jewish High Holiday
3. September 22: What is a Nation?
Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities, Chapter 1.
Michael Ignatieff, Blood and Belonging, Chapter 1.
Walker Connor, “A Nation is a Nation , is an . . .” From Connor, Ethnonationalism.
Ernest Renan, “What is a Nation?” from H. Bahba (ed.) Nation and Narration, 8-22
September 29: No Class – Brandeis Monday
4. September October 6: What’s So Special about Nations?
David Miller, On Nationality, Chapter 3.
Roger Scruton, “In Defence of the Nation,” from Scruton, The Philosopher on Dover
Beach, Chapter 28.
Liah Greenfeld, Nationalism: Five Roads to Modernity, 1-21, 485-92.
5. October 13: What is Nationalism?
Paul Gilbert, Philosophy of Nationalism, 4-8.
Ernest Gellner, Nations and Nationalism, Chaps 1-5.
6. October 20: Liberal Nationalism?
Yael Tamir, Liberal Nationalism, Introduction, Chapters 2-3, 5-7.
7. October 27: A Right to National Self-Determination?
David Miller, On Nationality, Chapter 4.
Daniel Philpott, “In Defense of Self-Determination,” Ethics 105 (1995): 352-385.
Donald Horwitz, Self-Determination: Politics, Philosophy, and Law,” Nomos: Ethnicity
andGroup Rights, (1997).
8. November 3: No Class – First Paper due.
9. November 10: Nationalism and Democracy
Margaret Canovan, Nationhood and Political Theory, Chapter 7.
J. S. Mill, Representative Government, Chapter 16 (again)
Michael Walzer, “The New Tribalism,” in R. Beiner, Theorizing Nationalism.
Bernard Yack, “Popular Sovereignty and Nationalism,” Political Theory 29 (2001): 517-
30.
10. November 17: Secession
Allen Buchanan, Secession: The Morality of Political Divorce, Chapters 1-3.
11. November 24:Can Patriotism Save us from Nationalism?
Jürgen Habermas, “Citizenship and National Identity,” in R. Beiner, Theorizing
Citizenship.
Maurizio Viroli, For Love of Country, Introduction and Epilogue.
Margaret Canovan, “Patriotism is not Enough,”British Journal of Political Science 30
(2000): 413-32.
12. December 1: Cosmopolitanism as Remedy?
Martha Nussbaum,“Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism,” from Nussbaum et al, For Love of
Country.
Ulrich Beck, Cosmopolitan Vision, 1-32.
David Miller,National Responsibility and Global Justice, Chapter 2.
Carmen Pavel, “Cosmopolitanism, Nationalism, and Moral Opportunity Costs,” Polity
(2009), 1-25.
.
13. December 8: American Exceptionalism?
Michael Walzer, “What It Means To Be an American,” in Walzer,What It Means To Be
an American and other Essays.
Samuel Huntington, Who are We?, Foreword, Chapters 1-3.
Arthur Schlesinger, The Disuniting of America, Foreword, Chapter 1.
Pol 192b
Theories of Nationalism
Coursepack
Table of Contents
2. September 8: Reactions to Nationalism
- John Dunn, “Nationalism,” from Dunn, Western Political Theory in the Face of
the Future, Chapter 3.
- J. S. Mill, Representative Government, Chapter 16.
- Rebecca West, Black Lamb, Grey Falcon, 838-45.
- Elie Kedourie, Nationalism, Chapter 6.
3. September 22: What is a Nation?
- Walker Connor, “A Nation is a Nation , is an . . .” From Connor, Ethnonationalism.
- Ernest Renan, “What is a Nation?” from H. Bahba (ed.) Nation and Narration, 8-22.
- Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities, Chapter 1.
- Michael Ignatieff, Blood and Belonging, Chapter 1.
- Margaret Canovan, Nationhood and Political Theory, Chapter 7.
4. September October 6: What’s So Special about Nations?
-David Miller, On Nationality, Chapter 3.
-Roger Scruton, “In Defence of the Nation,” from Scruton, The Philosopher on Dover
Beach, Chapter 28.
-Liah Greenfeld, Nationalism: Five Roads to Modernity, 1-21, 485-92.
5. October 13: What is Nationalism?
- Paul Gilbert, Philosophy of Nationalism, 4-8.
6. October 20: Liberal Nationalism?
Yael Tamir, Liberal Nationalism, Introduction, Chapters 2-3, 5-7.
8. October 27: A Right to National Self-Determination?
- David Miller, On Nationality, Chapter 4.
- Daniel Philpott, “In Defense of Self-Determination,” Ethics 105 (1995): 352-385.
- Donald Horowitz, Self-Determination: Politics, Philosophy, and Law,” Nomos: Ethnicity and
Group Rights, (1997).
- Will Kymlicka, Multicultural Citizenship, Chapter 2.
9. November 10: Nationalism and Democracy
- Margaret Canovan, Nationhood and Political Theory, Chapter 7.
- J. S. Mill, Representative Government, Chapter 16 (again)
- Michael Walzer, “The New Tribalism,” in R. Beiner, Theorizing Nationalism.
- B. Yack, “Popular Sovereignty and Nationalism,” Political Theory 29 (2001): 517-30.
11. November 24: Can Patriotism Save us from Nationalism?
- Margaret Caonvan, Nationhood and Political Theory, Chapter 8.
- Jürgen Habermas, “Citizenship and National Identity,” in R. Beiner, Theorizing
Citizenship.
- Maurizio Viroli, For Love of Country, Introduction and Epilogue.
12. December 1: Cosmopolitanism as Remedy?
- Martha Nussbaum, “Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism,” from Nussbaum et al, For Love of
Country.
- Ulrich Beck, Cosmopolitan Vision, 1-32.
- David Miller, National Responsibility and Global Justice, Chapter 2.
- Carmen Pavel, “Cosmopolitanism, Nationalism, and Moral Opportunity Costs,” Polity
(2009), 1-25.
13. December 8: American Exceptionalism?
- Michael Walzer, “What It Means To Be an American,” in Walzer,What It Means To Be
an American and other Essays.
- Samuel Huntington, Who are We?, Foreword, Chapters 1-3.
- Arthur Schlesinger, The Disuniting of America, Foreword, Chapter 1.
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