Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2022 - IS 230 D100

Beyond the Nation-State: Identity and Belonging in a Globalized World (3)

Class Number: 5297

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 21, 2022
    Thu, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This course surveys the diverse ways people have fashioned identities and social relations that do not easily conform to the boundaries of nation-states. Explores how, in the context of transnational movements of people and ideas, individuals and communities construct and contest new identities, aspirations, and forms of belonging. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

In this course, we will explore diverse ways that people have forged and resisted connections, including through: the transnational movements of people, ideas, and capital; the construction of identities through us/other distinctions; modes of exchange; and the manipulation of particular forms of power and inequality. It will provide a strong foundation for future scholarship related to: international migration and diaspora studies; the politics of race, ethnicity, and gender; structural inequality; cultural commodification; globalized rights movements; and the changing dynamics of nationalism and cosmopolitanism.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Through this course, students will (a) develop appreciation for how collective identities have been constructed around notions of belonging and difference, the power such distinctions can wield, and the work that goes into deconstructing categories; and (b) gain understanding about how transnational processes have affected understandings of the nation-state and nationalism as well as globalization. Students will also develop their skills in appraising how case studies of human life can inform theories of human organization, and critically engaging with key concepts through written essays and discussion participation.

Grading

  • Tutorial participation 20%
  • Reading Response Essay 1 (1000 words) 10%
  • Mid-term Exam 25%
  • Research Paper (2000 words) 20%
  • Exam 25%

NOTES:

Students will be required to submit their written assignments to Turnitin.com in order to receive credit for the assignments and for the course.

The School for International Studies strictly enforces the University's policies regarding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Information about these policies can be found at: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/teaching.html.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. Verso Books, 2006.
ISBN: 9781844670864

Other required readings will be available digitally through the SFU Library.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022

Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place.  Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.