Summer Timetable

POL300H1F L0101

Topics in Comparative Politics

Identity Politics and Ethnonationalist Mobilization in the Developing World

Themes

With decolonization, the end of the Cold War, and the onset of the “third wave” of democratization, the world has witnessed the growing importance of identity politics. Groups and individuals have defined themselves in the political arena according to their ‘ethnic’ character, often defined by religious, linguistic, racial, caste, tribal and regional markers. POL300H1 will begin by analyzing how ethnic identity is defined, how ethnic identities have been mobilized and politicized, and the consequences of ethnonationalist mobilization including its impact on political outcomes like voting, democratic stability, economic growth, and political violence. Viewing these topics from a comparative and historical perspective, students will critically examine case studies from Latin America, the Balkans, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa to explore why ethnic conflict is violent, divisive, and destabilizing in some cases, but is non-violent and occurs within the framework of democratic competition in others.

Texts

TBA

Format and Requirements

Critical response/reaction paper (short paper), research proposal and outline, research paper, weekly participation.

Prerequisites

1.0 POL credit