Spring 2018 - POL 434W D100

Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict (4)

Class Number: 10182

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Eline de Rooij
    ead2@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-5858
  • Prerequisites:

    POL 201 and eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Nationalist movements and intrastate ethnic conflict around the globe. Begins with an overview of nationalism, including its historical emergence, its roots, and different types. Moves on to ethnic conflict, focusing on its sources and potential solutions to this problem. Students with credit for POL 338W may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

The focus of this course is on nationalist movements and intrastate ethnic conflict around the world. We will first discuss the concepts of nation, nationalism and ethnicity, and the complexities surrounding these concepts. In the second part of the course we will examine the micro and macro causes of ethnic conflict. The third part will provide an overview of the origins and spread of nationalism, and its relevance for policies and practices of modern states regarding citizenship, migration and demands for self-determination. Next, we will learn about different types of ethnic conflict (e.g. discrimination and riots, but also the severe case of genocide), as well as some of their consequences for politics and society. The final part of the course addresses potential ways of managing ethnic conflict.  

Over the course of thirteen weeks you will be writing your own research paper, during which you will encounter different stages of conducting empirical research. You will learn how to formulate a relevant and interesting research question, and deduct testable hypotheses from theory. Moreover, you will test these hypotheses through the statistical analysis of large-N data, and will be asked to write up the interpretation of your results.  

There will be one two-hour seminar and one two-hour computer lab session each week. 

Grading

  • Short tests (3) 30%
  • Group presentation and discussion 10%
  • Research paper drafts (2x15%) 30%
  • Final research paper 30%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Book chapters and academic journal articles will be either made available through Canvas, or can be downloaded through the E-Journals service of the SFU library.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The Department of Political Science strictly enforces a policy on plagiarism.
For details, see http://www.sfu.ca/politics/undergraduate/program/related_links.html and click on “Plagiarism and Intellectual Dishonesty” .

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/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

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS