Nations and Nationalism

4455G/9783B - Undergraduate/Graduate Seminar

Course Objectives

This seminar aims to critically discuss the main theories of nationalism in the field of political science. The first part of the course will concentrate on conceptualizing the notions of nation and nationalism. We will begin by evaluating whether nationhood is a primordial byproduct of human history or rather a consequence of modernization. Focusing on the role played by nationalism in state-building, we will answer the following question: do nations create states, or do states create nations? In the second part of this seminar, we will study the various consequences of national diversity and of nationalist movements. Among others, we will analyze the role played by political identities in shaping electoral outcomes and in fueling civil conflicts. Experiences of nationhood in minority and majority contexts will also be discussed, with a particular focus on Western nationalist movements from the 19th to the 21st century. We will conclude this seminar by evaluating how the concepts of multiculturalism, globalization and postnationalism impact the way in which we understand nations.

Taking Reading Notes

It is typically most useful to note down:

• Basic biographical information about the author

• What is the text’s main argument?

• How is this argument supported? (ex.: case studies, abstract reasoning, etc.)

• Are you convinced by this argument? Can you think of any pitfalls in the author’s argumentation?

• How can you contrast this author’s main argument with that of the other authors discussed this week (or in previous weeks, when relevant)?

Syllabus

The syllabus for our class is available here.