P0481A:ComparativeEthnicPolitics
WilfridLaurierUniversity
Winter2017
Instructor:DejanGuzina
Lecture:Tuesday11:30-14:20
Classroom:BA307(BrickerAcademicBldg.)
Email:[email protected]
OfficeHours:Thursday10:00–12:00(orbyappointment)
Office:DAWB4-154
Course Description
Whyisitsohardtoseparateethnic,religiousandnationalidentitiesintoday’sworld?Whydo
someregionallybasedethnicandreligiousgroupsaskforastateoftheirownwhileothersdo
not? Why do some ethnic groups engage in war while others remain in peace? Does
democratizationincreaseormitigatenationalistconflicts?Whataretheemotionalsourcesand
symbolicpredispositionsofethnicconflictandnationalistpassions?And,finally,whatarethe
dilemmasofstatebuildingindividedsocietiesaftercivilconflicts/wars?Thesearethequestions
that will be examined in this seminar. Throughout the course, we will be relying on welldocumentedcasestudiesfromdifferentpartsoftheworldthatcoverawiderangeofapproaches
toethnicconflictanditsmanagement.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be familiar with a range of sources documenting the
multiple contexts through which ethnic violence and politics of its management intersect.
Studentswillalsobeabletopresenttheirideasbothindividuallyandinagroupsetting,andwill
continuetodeveloptheirskillsinresearch,writing,andthepresentationoforiginalargumentin
discussionandintheirwrittenwork.
Course Requirements and Assessment Overview
RequiredBooks
StuartJ.Kaufman,NationalistPassions(Cornell,CornellUniversityPress:2015).
Karl Cordell and Stefan Wolff, Ethnic Conflict: Causes, Consequences, Responses (Cambridge,
PolityPress:2010).
JackSnyder,FromVotingtoViolence:DemocratizationandNationalistConflict(NewYork,W.W.
Norton:2000).
CourseExpectations
ThegradingschemeforPO481is:
•
5tutorialtickets/shortresponsepapers(4pointsperticket,20intotal)
•
Classparticipation(10points)
•
Formalpresentation(10points)
•
Essayproposal/policybrief(15points)
•
3min.proposal/policybriefpresentation(5points)
•
Finalessay/policypaper(40points)
ClassParticipationandSeminarPresentation:
MLS: YouwillbereceivingannouncementsviaMyLearningSpace(MLS)forthiscourse.Ifyou
experiencetechnicaldifficultieswithMLS,[email protected]
delay.
Class participation: Thisisafourth-yearseminarthatoffersasmall-groupdiscussionsetting.
Thus,studentsareexpectedtoreadandparticipateactivelyandregularlyinseminardiscussions.
Itisimportanttounderstandthatineveryclasssessionyoumaybecalledonandyoumusttake
anactiveroleinourdiscussions.Iwillrevieweverystudentwiththefollowinginmind:
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Substance: was the answer correct? Did the response clearly address the question with
information from the readings? Does the student understand the readings? And, does the
studentlinkinformationwithotherreadings?
Criticallistening:doesthestudentlinkcommentswithpointsmadebyotherstudents?And,does
thecommentadvancethediscussionorpullitback?
Creativityandcriticalthinking:doesthestudenttakethediscussiontoanewunexploredand
unexpectedarea?And,hasthestudentconsideredallrelevantperspectives?
Clarity:istheresponseclear,conciseandunderstandable?And,didthestudentuseappropriate
andpolitelanguage?
Seminar presentation: Each student is required to lead at least one seminar session of
approximately 30 minutes. Basically, this includes a 15-minute presentation of the assigned
weeklyreading.Studentsshouldbeawarethatafter15minutestheywillbeaskedtostoptheir
presentationsandopenclassfordiscussion.Eventhoughpresentationsrepresentanoverview
of the assigned reading, the presenters are encouraged to incorporate additional literature,
government documents, newspaper articles, video clips etc. in their overview of the course
material.Astherewillbemorethanonepresentereachclass,studentsareencouragedtowork
closelywitheachotherand,wheneverpossible,jointlypreparetheirpresentations.
Ultimately,formalpresentationswillbeanexerciseinacriticalexaminationofethnicconflictin
oneofthecountriesthatwillbediscussedinclass.Pleasetaketheopportunitytobecreativein
relationtothecoursematerial.Onceyouaredonewiththeformalpresentation,youmaythen
divideupthediscussiontimeinanywayyouwish.Forexample,youcandividetheclassupfora
debateorrole-playifyouwish.Pleasekeepinmindthatyoushouldprepareyourpresentation
withtheassumptionthatyourclassmateshavereadtheweeklyreadings.Inotherwords,your
jobastutorialleadersisnotjusttoregurgitatetherequiredreadingsbuttopreparestudentsfor
anengageddiscussion/debateofthequestionsthatarebeingraisedduringthepresentation.
IMPORTANT:Theuseoflaptopsandhandhelddevicesduringthestudentpresentationsisnot
allowed.
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Tutorial tickets (short response papers):Theresponsepapers(2pageseach,approximately
600to700wordsperpaper)willbebasedontheweeklyrequiredreadings.Eachstudentshould
respondtofiveweeklyreadingassignments.Writtenresponsesareexpectedtobesubmitteda
day before the class (by 8pm on Mondays those weeks when you are planning to write your
tutorialtickets).Latesubmissions(thatis,aftertheclass)willnotbeaccepted.Thefirstthree
tutorialticketsshouldbehandedinbeforetheReadingweek(atleastoneoftheresponsepapers
shouldcoverthereadingsinPartTwooftheseminar).Astudentshouldnotfillinthetutorial
tickettheweeks/heispresentinginclass.Eachresponsepaperisworth4%ofthefinalgrade
(overall,20%).Aneffectiveanalyticalsummaryofthereadingsrepresentsidentificationofand
comparativeevaluationofamajorargumentinthereadings.Studentsshouldincorporateinthe
response paper their own questions and comments that they would like to share with the
classmates.Eachclass,morethanonestudentwillbeaskedtoreadhisorherresponsepaper.
WrittenAssignments:
Essay proposal (essay outline with annotated bibliography) / policy brief: Studentshave
twooptions.Thefirstoneistowritearegularacademicessayforwhichtheyshouldpreparean
essayoutlinewithannotatedbibliography.Theoutlineshouldbeapproximately2to3pages(600
to800words),whilethebibliographyshouldbeonetotwopagesinlength.Theproposalshould
indicatewhattheessaywillbearguing,howitwillanticipateandrespondtocritique,andwhat
sourceshavebeenidentifiedtodate.Youshouldincludeshortdescriptionsofthematerialyou
haveread(i.e.,annotateyourbibliography).Youwillbegradedonthecoherence,feasibility,and
thoroughnessoftheproposal.Alternatively,ifastudentisinterestedinwritingapolicypaper,
s/hecanoptforthesecondoption:towriteapolicybriefandlaterapolicypaper.Policybrief
shouldbearoundfourpagesinlength(1000to1200words).Detailedinstructionsaboutwhat
shouldbeincludedintheessayproposalsandpolicybriefswillbepostedonMLS.
The essay outline and policy brief are due on February 14. However, before a student starts
writing,s/heshouldcometoseemeduringmyofficehours(notlaterthanthesixthweekofthe
classes).Iwillnotacceptessayproposalsorpolicybriefsthathavenotbeenfirstclearedbyme,
sodon’tstartwritinguntilyourtopichasbeenapproved.
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Short and sweet - 3 min. proposal / policy brief presentation: Once the proposals/policy
briefs are marked, students will have the opportunity in the second half of the seminar to
present them in class. Students are encouraged to check the following websites to
familiarize themselves with the 3-minute presentation model: Ted talks, and Laurier 3minute thesis.
Final essay / policy paper: The final paper shouldbe12to14double-spacedpages(3500to
4000words)inlength.Forfinalessay,studentsareexpectedtowriteanessaythatwilllinka
countrystudytooneofthethemesthathavebeentheoreticallyexploredinclass(nationalism
andethnicviolence;democratizationandnationalistconflict;theroleofsymbolsinstirringupor
mitigatingnationalistpassions;conflictpreventionandmediation;powersharing,international
intervention and democracy building; post-conflict development, etc.). For those students
writingapolicypaper,theyshouldprovideanin-debtanalysisofthetopicalreadypresentedin
thepolicybrief.ThepapersaredueonApril7.
Forthefinalpaper(essayorpolicypaper),studentsareexpectedtoexploreadditionalsources.
Theruleofthumbistworeferencesperpage(minimumoffifteentotwentyreferences).Books
discussedinclassdon’tcounttowardstherequirednumberofreferencesbuttheycanbecited
inthepapers.Studentsmustsubmitafinalpapertoreceiveapassinggrade.Theessaysubmitted
inthecoursemaynothavebeensubmittedinanothercourse.Thisoranyothertypeofplagiarism
leadstoanFmarkfortheassignment.Latesubmissionoffinalpaperwillbepenalizedwith5%
offyourpapergradeperday.
NOTE:Studentsdonotneedtohandinhardcopiesoftheirwrittenassignments.Instead,they
shouldpostalltheirwrittenworkonPO481webpage,whichcanbeaccessedthroughMLS.
Detailed paper and presentation instructions will be provided in the handouts that will be
uploaded on MLS the first week of classes.
DatestoRemember:
•
Essayoutline/policybrief–February14
•
February20-24(ReadingWeek):noclasses
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• Finalessay/policypaper–April7
CodeofConduct:
Two notes on student conduct are, however, worth mentioning at this stage. First, all
students are expected to treat one another with respect in their interactions through this
course. Second, all students are responsible for becoming familiar and acting with
academic integrity as defined at Laurier, especially – but not exclusively – with respect to
plagiarism. More information can be found at Laurier’s academic integrity webpage.
If you have any questions or concerns about the course, lectures, readings, tutorials,
assignments, or any other matter, do not hesitate to contact me. For example, if you are
unable to attend one of the seminars, or complete a written assignment on time, you should
inform me as soon as possible so that we can discuss the matter and determine what options
are available. Each case will be treated on its own merits but it is expected that you will
provide appropriate documentation.
EmailEtiquette:
When you are communicating with the Professor using email:
1) make sure the subject line of your message identifies the course number and the nature
of your query (for example: PO481 Assignment Question);
2) also, make sure you tell us your name and a student number; and
3) finally, you should use only mylaurier email account when corresponding with your
professor (don’t use your personal email account, or the MLS email system).
TheProperUseoftheCourseMaterial:
The educational materials developed for this course, including, but not limited to, lecture
notes and slides, handout materials, examinations and assignments, and any materials
posted to MyLearningSpace (MLS), are the intellectual property of the course instructor.
These materials have been developed for student use only and they are not intended for
wider dissemination and/or communication outside of a given course. Posting or providing
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unauthorized audio, video, or textual material of lecture content to third-party websites
violates an instructor’s intellectual property rights, and the Canadian Copyright
Act. Recording lectures in any way is prohibited in this course unless specific permission
has been granted by the instructor. Failure to follow these instructions may be in
contravention of the university’s Code of Student Conduct and/or Code of Academic
Conduct, and will result in appropriate penalties. Participation in this course constitutes
an agreement by all parties to abide by the relevant University Policies, and to respect the
intellectual property of others during and after their association with Wilfrid Laurier
University.
Additional Information of Interest to Students
StudentswithdisabilitiesorspecialneedsareadvisedtocontactLaurier'sAccessibleLearning
Officeforinformationregardingitsservicesandresources.Studentsareencouragedtoreview
theAcademicCalendarforinformationregardingallservicesavailableoncampus.
CounsellingServices:
CounsellingServicesareavailabletohelpstudentsdealwithemotional,psychologicalandsocial
challenges of university. Counselling, consultation or referrals are available at the Student
WellnessCentre.
PeerHelpLine:
1.886.281.PEER x7337. Peer Help Line, a confidential listening, referral, information and
supportline,isavailableduringeveninghourstoprovidesupport.
StudentFoodBank:
AllLaurierstudentsareeligibletousetheStudentFoodBank.Anonymousrequestscanbemade
onlineatwlusu.comundertheServicestab.Alldietaryrestrictionsareaccommodated,andfood
hamperstypicallylastuptoaweek.
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PO481A Seminar Agenda
Week1,January3–WelcometoPO481!
Part ONE: Interpreting Ethnic Conflicts and Nationalism
Week2,January10–Thecausesandconsequencesofethnicconflict
Reading:
CordellandWolff,chs.2,3,4(pp.4-75).
Week3,January17–Democratizationandtheriseofnationalistconflicts
Reading:
Snyder,chs.1,2(pp.15-92).
Week4,January24–Nationalistpassionsandethnicpolitics
Reading:
Kaufman,Introductionandch.1(pp.1-65).
Week5,January31–Varietiesofnationalism
Reading:
Snyder,chs.3,4(pp.93-188).
Part TWO – Comparing Ethnic Conflicts
Week6,February7–Post-communismandtheriseofnationalism
Reading:
Snyder,ch.5(pp.189-264).
Week7,February14–Nationalistconflictanddemocracyinthedevelopingworld
Reading:
Snyder,ch.6(pp.265-312).
February 20 - 24: No classes (Reading Week)
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Week8,February28–NationalismandconflictinthePhilippines,SudanandRwanda
Reading:
Kaufman,chs.2,3,4(pp.66-147).
Week9,March7–Thesymbolicpoliticsofethnicpeace(India,SouthAfrica,Tanzania)
Reading:
Kaufman,chs.5,6,7(148-237)
Part THREE: Responses to Nationalist Conflicts
Week10,March14–Ethnicconflictmanagement
Reading:
CordellandWolff,chs.5,6(pp.79-137).
Week11,March21–Ethnicconflictsettlement
Reading:
CordellandWolff,chs.7,8(pp.138-192).
Week12,March28–Avertingnationalistconflicts?
Reading:
Snyder,ch.7(pp.313-353);Kaufman,Conclusion(pp.237-266).
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