Department of European Studies & Modern Languages, Unit Catalogue 2010/11 |
EU30732: The politics of ethnicity, religion, and nationalism |
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Honours |
| Period: | This unit is available in... |
| Semester 1 |
| Assessment:
| CW 10%, EX 90% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| |
| Description:
| Aims: This course aims to: provide an understanding of the on-going saliency of ethnicity, religion, and nationalism in the politics of selected post-communist and developing countries; explain the role of religion in the origin, formation (or social construction) of ethnicity, nationhood, and nationalism; explain why the different perspectives of social theory neglect or ignore the role of religion in politics; to explain the role of religion in the liberation struggle in South Africa; to explain the role of liberation theology, the Catholic church, and Pentecostal Christianity in the political changes in Latin America; examine the nature of 'fundamentalism' as a concept, and examine its application to the mixing of religion and politics in selected states; examine the various ways Islam and politics have been interpreted within the Islamic tradition, and explain the way these interpretations have influence the political development of a variety of Islamic states; explain the ways religion has come to challenge the secular state. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course students should be able to do the following: critically evaluate the role of ethnicity, religion, and nationalism in the main perspectives of social theory in development and international relations; explain how religion has played a role in the revolutions or political changes in South Africa, Poland, and Latin America; explain the way different Muslim countries have tried to form 'Islamic states' and applied Islam to their politics and society; explain how religion challenges the secular state in a number of developing countries, including India, Turkey, Algeria, and Egypt. Skills: Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument, teamwork and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are taught and assessed in this unit. Content: Introduction to the politics of developing countries; the concepts of ethnicity, religion and nationalism; the transition to democracy; the consolidation of democracy. Case studies of: Poland, Yugoslavia, South Africa, Turkey, India, Algeria, Egypt and Latin America. Key texts: J. Esposito and J. Voll Islam and Democracy Jeff Haynes Religion and Politics in the Third World Jeff Haynes Religion in Global Politics David Westerlund (ed) Questioning the Secular State Steve Bruce Politics and Religion (Polity Pr, 2003). |