International development

Race, Ethnicity and Nationalism

Module code: L2002N
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar, Lecture
Assessment modes: Essay

On this module, you'll explore themes and conceptual issues related to culture, ethnicity, and nationalism from a range of perspectives.

The module is divided into three sections, helping you understand how power and cultural meanings interact, particularly in the construction of boundaries and the creation of differences between social groups.

You’ll begin by examining key concepts such as race, culture, ethnicity, and nationalism, before focusing on ethnic and religious mobilisation.

You'll also explore how similar and different processes play out in regions such as South Africa, the Caribbean, and the Indian sub-continent, giving you a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural dynamics of modern political struggles.

Module learning outcomes

• A basic knowledge of a range of key historical problems and conceptual questions relating to the study of race, culture, ethnicity, and nationalism.
• A basic knowledge of the core reading, with some appreciation of the subtlety of debates or different interpretations that might be drawn from particular evidence.
• A basic understanding of how to write an essay showing some sign of structure and organization, the proper utilisation of evidence and the formation of an argument.
• Reasonably correct referencing and bibliographies in essays.