T. Weeks (tadeusz@siu.edu)

Fall 1998

This course aims to acquaint you with some of the major theoretical trends and controversies in the study of nationality and ethnic identity. It is also hoped that you will take the theoretical insights gained in this colloquium and apply them in a concrete, practical way by participating next semester (Spring 1999) in a "companion" research seminar. Both this colloquium and next semester's seminar are not defined geographically: we will touch, in one way or another, all of the continents. Because of the instructor's own interests and limitations, a decided "Eurocentric" emphasis will be detected (somewhat justified, I think, by the material itself -- "nationalism" is, I will posit, a European creation - at least originally), but students are invited and encouraged to "make good" this onesidedness by writing papers dealing with Asian, African, Austral-Oceanic, and even American (from the Bay of Fundy to Tierra del Fuego) history.

Course meets in the History Seminar Room, Faner 3314, Tuesdays 3:00 - 5:30 pm

Requirements:

1) Attendance and participation. Both physical and "spiritual" presence is a must!

2) Each student will lead the discussion twice during the semester. That week s/he will prepare (possibly in collaboration with another student) a) a short reading list on that week's topic [no longer than one double-sided sheet] and b) study questions, to be made available to all participants no longer than Friday before the colloquium meeting.

3) Three 2-3 pp. summaries/critiques of the assigned readings. It is up to you which of our readings you choose to critique, but you must turn in the first critique by at latest week 4 (September 15), and the second by, say, week 10.

4) By week 13, a 5-8 pp. "research proposal" (plus bibliography) for a proposed research paper.

Office hours: Faner 3270, TWTh 2-2:50 pm or any time by appointment.

I work in my office - just drop by, whether it's "official" office hours or not. Or call (453-7874) or e-mail (tadeusz@siu.edu).

Plan of Attack

Week 1 (August 25)

Introductions

Week 2 (September 1): The Nation as Concept and Construct

Geoff Eley and Ronald Gregor Suny, eds. Becoming National, pp. 3-238.

John Hutchinson and Anthony D. Smith, eds. Nationalism, pp. 3-46.

Week 3 (September 8): Different Approaches

Nationalism, pp. 47-131.

Ernest Gellner. Nations and Nationalism.

Week 4 (September 15): Historico-Marxisant Approach

E. Hobsbawm. Nations and Nationalism since 1780.

Week 5 (September 22): The Universal and the Particular - Philosophical Bases of Nationalism

Tzvetan Todorov. On Human Diversity: Nationalism, Racism, and Exoticism in French Thought.

Week 6 (September 29): Constructing Nations

E. Hobsbawm and T. Ranger, eds. The Invention of Tradition.

Nationalism, pp. 132-159.

Week 7 (October 6): State and Nation

John Breuilly. Nationalism and the State.

Week 8 (October 13): Citizenship and the Nation

Rogers Brubaker. Citizenship and Nationhood.

Week 9 (October 20): Nations over nations? Colonialism and racism.

Becoming National, pp. 239-402.

Nationalism, pp. 160-286.

Week 10 (October 27): Nationalism and the Y Chromosome

Klaus Theweleit. Male Fantasies, vol. 1.

Week 11 (November 3): Case Study - Zionism

Yael Zerubavel. Recovered Roots.

Week 12 (November 10): Case Study - Russia/USSR.

Yuri Slezkine. Arctic Mirrors.

Week 13 (November 17): Case Study - Germany

Alon Confino. The Nation as a Local Metaphor.

Week 14 (December 1): Beyond the Nation?

Becoming National, pp. 403-508.

Nationalism, pp. 287-325.

Week 15 (December 8): The End

End of semester fete - "research proposals" due.