Marburg, Germany - Course Descriptions - Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict

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Nationalism and Ethnicity are today considered major social forces in an increasingly globalized world. Many of the ongoing social and political conflicts are framed in these terms. Pervading all aspects of social and political life, the particular manifestations of collective identity known as “nation” and “ethnic group” are inherent to the greatest challenges contemporary societies must cope with. These range from the normative integration of increasingly multicultural polities to new security issues threatening fledgling states.

Drawing on debates in sociology, anthropology, and political science, this seminar will explore the theoretical debates surrounding the phenomena of nationalism and ethic conflict. Students will be familiarized with the dominant approaches, their historical roots and contemporary significance in this still growing academic field.

The seminar is divided into five sections. It starts with an introduction to the contested concept of ethnic conflict and then takes a closer look at the basic notions of nationalism and ethnicity. The next section tackles the normative dimensions of ethnic belonging and nationhood. Such debates are subsequently related to politics and the state, elucidating how modern institutions create and maintain ethnic and national identities while fostering conflicts within and across their boundaries. The following sessions are dedicated to theories of the violent escalation of nationalist contention and ethnic conflict. Finally, we will turn to potential ways of managing ethnic and nationalist conflicts. Here, the focus is on consociationalism, federalism, and the debate on the “pros” and “cons” of partition. 

Since the readings in this seminar are almost entirely of North-American origin, the working language during in-class discussions should be English. Students are required to submit for each session a one-page memo and will be asked to prepare at least one introductory presentation. A short research paper of approximately 15-20 pages has to be produced in the semester.