A Bachelor’s Degree within a social science field, e.g., Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, International Relations, Human Rights or a related major field. English 6

The course makes part of the main field Political Science (level 91-120 credits) and can be included in a Master degree with the main field Political Science

What are the claims and challenges of cultural pluralism? What are some of the major theoretical positions regarding cultural pluralism and how does it influence and find expression through politics and policy?

This course addresses these questions by engaging with the by now large and diverse literature on multiculturalism, which focuses on how public authorities ought to respond to minority groups’ claims to recognition, inclusion, equality, autonomy, and self-government. Having analyzed this literature, the course turns to empirical and political aspects of pluralism. The main question with which the course grapples is how states and societies change as a result of (increased) diversity, which in turn opens up for a large number of more specific questions, including the relationship between diversity and social welfare, parliamentary politics, constitutionalism, national identity, and integration policies.

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the course the student shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

• historical and contemporary processes that contribute to increased diversity in modern societies and the connection between e.g. international migration, citizenship, and integration policies;
• theoretical perspectives on multiculturalism and different states’ ways of handling multiculturalism;
• methodological approaches to the study of questions of relevance for policy.

Skills and abilities

On completion of the course the student shall demonstrate an ability to

• compare and contrast different theoretical standpoints for the purpose of gaining a more thorough and complex understanding of ways of thinking about pluralism;
• apply theoretical concepts on empirical phenomena for the purpose of developing their own ability to discuss different ways of handling practical questions pertaining to diversity, as well as to argue for and against pluralism.

Judgement and approach

On completion of the course the student shall demonstrate a capacity to

• scientifically evaluate information and policies about pluralism using both constitutional and normative frameworks;
• identity their own need for deeper and wider understanding of issues of pluralism.

Teaching consists of both lectures and seminars.

Evaluation is based on one written assignment.

The University provides students who participate in or who have completed a course with the opportunity to make known their experiences and viewpoints with regards to the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarize the results of course evaluations as well as informing participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures initiated in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.

The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.

If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format.