IGA-315: Global Ethnic Politics

This course explores the history and dynamics of ethnic politics on a global scale. From the historical legacies of colonialism to contemporary conflicts and struggles for self-determination, the course seeks to answer fundamental questions regarding identity politics and its political ramifications across different parts of the world. The topics will cover definitions of identity, race, and ethnicity, colonization, nationhood and nationalism, legacies of slavery, ethnic political mobilization, ethnic conflicts, ethnic voting, and consequences of politicized identity for democracy, governance, and economic development. The course will draw from a wide range of source materials, including scholarship in comparative politics, international relations, economics, sociology, and anthropology, as well as long-form journalism and film. We will cover various regions of the world, combining social science theory with empirical evidence to analyze historical and contemporary cases from sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, South and Southeast Asia, and Europe.