Time Schedule:
Michael N. Hechter
SIS 490
Seattle Campus
Content varies from quarter to quarter.
Class description
SIS 490C/soc 481a Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict (Hechter) This course aims to explore the causes and means of containing nationalist conflict in the contemporary world. It does so by asking three questions: (1) What accounts for the timing of nationalist conflict? (2) Who becomes nationalist and why? And (3) what means, if any, are there of containing the conflict? These questions will be explored with respect to several concrete cases of nationalist conflict (to be etermined). After we have a general understanding of these cases, we will then turn to debates about the means of containing nationalist conflict. These debates revolve around the concept of multiculturalism.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
The course will be a workshop, with some group work, some individual assignments, and some lecturing by the instructor.
Recommended preparation
Daily reading of the New York Times.
Class assignments and grading
Students will be asked to read three required books, contribute to a group report on one of the case studies, and write an individual research paper addressed to their case study that grapples with the theoretical issues mentioned above.
