Preliminary Syllabus - Spring 2002
Course Description & Objectives:
The causes, consequences and resolution of ethnic conflicts are the focus of this course. Wherever one looks in the world there seems to be an ethnic conflict underway. The problem has serious implications for the future of the international system since fewer than twenty of the more than 180 countries in existence today are "ethnically homogenous." It is inevitable, then, that interstate relations will be affected by the problems experienced in a world where there is not a neat convergence between state borders and cultural boundaries, just as it is inevitable that the interstate system will affect how states cope with the demands of their multicultural realities. The course will address three critical questions about ethnic conflict: (i) What are the contending explanations of ethnic conflict in our ever-changing world?; (ii) What are the implications of ethnic conflict for interstate relations?; and (iii) What are the mechanisms available for managing ethnic conflict?
Course Requirements, Policies, & Grading:
There will be three primary requirements for this course, all of them essays. All written submissions must be: typed (single-sided), double-spaced, in 12-pt. font, with 1" page margins, and with within-text citations (author year, page) and footnotes or endnotes (choose one) if necessary. They must generally follow the standards established in commonly accepted academic writing style manuals. Always feel free to come to me seeking help with any aspect of the course.
For the three essays (8-10 pages each) you will summarize, analyze and critique the arguments presented in required readings 3, 4 and 5. I will discuss my expectations regarding these writing assignments in greater detail in class. In general, though, to receive any grade above a B-, a student must produce a thoughtful, comprehensive, and well-written essay that borrows ideas and arguments from the assigned readings as well as from "outside" source material to thoroughly and critically analyze the subject.
The assigned course readings will be regularly discussed in class. Active student participation in all class discussions is expected, and will be the basis upon which the "class participation" grade is decided. A good class attendance record is also expected throughout the term.
Grades will be based on the following distribution scheme:
|
Essay from reading 3: 30 % Essay from reading 4: 30 % Essay from reading 5: 25 % Class participation: 15 % |
94 -100 % A 90 - 93 % A- 87 - 89 % B+ 83 - 86 % B 80 - 82 % B- |
75 - 79 % C+ 70 - 74 % C 65 - 69 % C- 51 - 64 % D 0 - 50 % F |
All students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. Any act of academic dishonesty or misconduct will be referred to the Office of the Dean. For further information, see Carleton College’s Academic Honesty in the Writing of Essays and Other Papers and the section on "academic honesty" in Academic Regulations and Procedures, 2001-02. Both are available in Laird 140.
Special needs: Students requiring access to learning tools or special schedules approved by Student Support Services should contact me at the beginning of the course.
Reading Assignments:
You are expected to keep up with the reading assignments as we go through the term, which means that you are supposed to read each assignment before the corresponding class period. The class lectures and discussions are meant to build upon the assigned reading material.
The following five required books are available in the bookstore:
[1] Brown, Michael E., Owen R. Cote, Jr., Sean M. Lynn-Jones, and Steven E. Miller (ed.). 2001. Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict: An International Security Reader, revised ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT. [BCLM henceforth.]
[2] Sisk, Timothy D. 1996. Power Sharing and International Mediation in Ethnic Conflicts. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace. [TDS henceforth.]
[3] Smith, Anthony D. 1998. Nationalism and Modernism: A Critical Survey of Recent Theories of Nations and Nationalism. London & New York: Routledge.
[4] Kaufman, Stuart J. 2001. Modern Hatreds: The Symbolic Politics of Ethnic War. Ithaca, NY & London: Cornell Univ.
[5] Gourevitch, Philip. 1998. We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. New York: Picador USA.
Additional books with reading assignments (on closed reserve in the library):
[6] Lake, David A., and Donald Rothchild (ed.). 1998. The International Spread of Ethnic Conflict: Fear, Diffusion, and Escalation. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. [L&R henceforth.]
[7] Crocker, Chester A., and Fen Osler Hampson, with Pamela Aall (ed.). 1996. Managing Global Chaos: Sources of and Responses to International Conflict. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace. [C&H henceforth.]
[8] Horowitz, Donald L. 1985. Ethnic Groups in Conflict. Berkeley, CA: Univ. of California. [DLH henceforth.]
[9] Hutchinson, John, and Anthony D. Smith (ed.). 1996. Ethnicity. Oxford, UK & New York: Oxford Univ. [H&S henceforth.]
[10] Brown, Michael E (ed.). 1993. Ethnic Conflict and International Security. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. [MEB henceforth.]
M 4/1 Introductory remarks.
Section I: Ethnicity, Politics, and Conflict—An Introduction
W 4/3 Definitions, concepts, and approaches to analysis.
F 4/5 Definitions, concepts, and approaches to analysis (cont.).
M 4/8 No class.
Section II: Ethnonationalism and Conflict—Contending Theories
W 4/10 Introduction and overview.
F 4/12 System-level explanations.
M 4/15 State-level explanations.
W 4/17 State-level explanations (cont.).
F 4/19 Small group/individual-level explanations.
M 4/22 Small group/individual-level explanations (cont.).
W 4/24 Small group/individual-level explanations (cont.).
F 4/26 No class.
Section III: The Implications of Ethnic Conflict for Interstate Relations
M 4/29 Introduction and overview.
W 5/1 Ethnic conflict as a transnational problem.
F 5/3 Ethnic conflict as a transnational problem (cont.).
Smith book essay due in my office by 5 PM.
M 5/6 Midterm break.
Section IV: Managing Ethnic Conflict
W 5/8 Power sharing and international mediation.
F 5/10 Power sharing and international mediation (cont.).
M 5/13 International intervention.
W 5/15 International intervention (cont.).
F 5/17 International intervention (cont.).
M 5/20 Political challenges to managing ethnic conflict.
W 5/22 Political challenges to managing ethnic conflict (cont.).
Kaufman book essay due in my office by 5 PM.
Section V: Case Studies
F 5/24 Canada.
M 5/27 Russia.
W 5/29 Rwanda: discussion of the Gourevitch book.
F 5/31 Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
M 6/3 The US response to ethnonationalism and ethnic conflict.
W 6/5 Course wrap-up and evaluation.
Gourevitch book essay due in my office by 5 PM.