Ethnopolitical conflict in Central and Eastern Europe

The aim of this course is to analyse the causes and consequences of ethnopolitical conflict and to examine the means by which states seek to eliminate or manage conflict between ethnic groups. The course will take an interdisciplinary approach, examining explanatory and normative literature from sociology, social psychology, history and political science.

The topics covered include: what is a nation?; the psychology of national identification; the social construction of nations; the ethnic origins of nations?; the nation, modernity and the state; nationalism and political legitimacy; nationalism, fascism and communism; nationalism, transition and the ‘Return to Europe’; national identity, gender and sexuality; national identity, foreign policy and security.

Assessment: coursework