Honors
HNRS 285-01: Ethnic Conflict/Ethnic Peace?
Following
the collapse of the Soviet Union, ethnic
conflict seemed to erupt around the globe. Terrorism in Europe and the Middle East (Bosnia, Kosovo, the
Arab-Israeli conflict, IRA, Basque separatists in France and Spain), separatism
and rebellion in North America (Quebeckers in Canada, Zapatistas in Mexico),
wars in Asia (East Timor, Sri Lanka, Cambodia), genocide and failing states in
Africa (Rwanda, Somalia, and others), and more. Ethnic conflict is not new, but it has gotten a lot of media coverage
since the early 1990s. In this course,
we will look at some important questions related to ethnicity and ethnic
conflict: What is an ethnic group? What is nationalism? Does ethnicity cause
war? Is nationalism a negative phenomenon or does it have positive effects as
well? Are new states more nationalistic than established states and if so what
impact does this have on the world system? Will the break up of empires or
multiethnic states always or often lead to war? How do leaders and the media
affect ethnic feelings? How can we mitigate whatever negative affects ethnicity
and nationality may have? Although we'll be talking about theories, we should
always keep in mind the practical and policy relevant ideas and uses of those
theories as well as the actual events about which social scientists theorize.
Fall Term: 2008
Credits: 4
Fulfills: GE Requirement in Social Science (E), Lugar Program - Track 2
Cross-listed: POSC 325-01
Pre-requisites: One 200-level Political Science course
Meeting times: 8:30-10:20 MW
Instructor: Sue Davis
Open to: Sophomores/Juniors/Seniors Only
