Ethnic Nationalism and the Modern World

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours

Knowledge gained in completing one of ANTH10001 or DEVT10001 or and Arts IDF subject.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Ethnicity and nationalism are of special concern to anthropologists, especially in instances where anthropology becomes part of nationalist discourse. This subject considers ethnicity and nationalism through the in-depth analysis of a case study from the developing world, but draws on comparative material from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Pacific. Students will examine different theoretical approaches to ethnicity, nationalism and ethnic nationalism, in particular the relationships between the formation of nation states and processes of 'development', 'transition' and 'underdevelopment'; the roles of actors, from political actors to ordinary people, in the construction of national projects; the relationships between historic and contemporary processes in the construction of national projects; how national projects are constructed, enforced and culturally maintained and the relationships between globalisation, migration, transnationalism and ethnic nationalism in the modern world.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• show an understanding of core theoretical approaches to the understanding of ethnicity, nationalism and ethnic nationalism;
• an ability to apply and critically assess theories of ethnicity, nationalism and ethnic nationalism in relation to empirical case studies;
• an understanding of the relationships between the formation of nation states and processes of development, transition and underdevelopment;
• an understanding of the respective roles of different actors, from political actors to ordinary people, in the construction of national projects;
• an understanding of the relationships between historic and contemporary processes in the construction of national projects;
• an understanding of how national projects are constructed, enforced and culturally maintained;
• an understanding of the relationships between globalization, migration, trans-nationalism and ethnic nationalism in the modern world;
• an ability to identify and critically assess the implicitly ethnic nationalist content in anthropological and other social scientific writing.

A 2000 word essay (50%) due mid-semester, and a 2000 word essay (50%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 75% tutorial attendance. Regular participation in tutorials is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A course reader will be available from the university bookshop or accessible through the student LMS.

• Ethnicity and Nationalism: Anthropological Perspective (T H Eriksen) Pluto Press 1

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• have experience in critical thinking and analysis;
• be able to think in theoretical terms;
• be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically;
• understand the significance of social, cultural, political and economic context.