The course will deal with central perspectives and concepts for the exploration of ethnic relations. This includes the role of cultural and social circumstances for how such relations develop over time and consequences of international migration linked to key areas such as identity, ethnicity, nationalism and diversity.

After finishing the course, the student shall:

• display knowledge of key phenomena and concepts in the field of ethnic relations;

• display knowledge of how researchers within the social sciences and humanities have addressed issues of identity, ethnicity and cultural diversity;

• demonstrate an ability to formulate critical, tenable and substantiated scientific arguments in the field of ethnic relations, orally as well as in writing.

The learning process is student-driven. It relies on the initiatives by, and contributions of, students. Lectures will only be used as a means of introduction. The course consists of lectures and seminars. Each seminar consists of topical presentations by students and/or lecturers, followed by a discussion.

The assessment of the students’ knowledge will be based on individually performed written assignments and presentations of group projects. In group presentations the individual student’s contribution must be distinguishable.

Literature:

• Barth, William Kurt (2008) On Cultural Rights: The Equality of Nations and the Minority Legal Tradition (chapter 5, p 155-201): Martines Nijhoff Publisher [ebrary reader].

• Bauman, Gerd (2008) Contesting Culture. Discourses of identity in multi-ethnic London. New York: Cambridge University Press. 215 pp

• Hutchinson, John & Smith, Anthony D. (ed) (1996) Ethnicity. Oxford / New York: Oxford University Press.

• Jenkins, Richard. 2008. Rethinking Ethnicity: Arguments and Explorations, London: Sage Publication.

• Jenkins, Richard. (2014). Social Identity, London: Routledge.

• Martinello, Marco & Rath, Jan (red). 2010. Selected Studies in International Migration and Immigrant Incorporation Amsterdam. Amsterdam University Press (640 pp.)

• Özkirimlis, Umut. 2010. Theories of Nationalism. A critical introduction. London. Macmillan. (288 pp.)

Further selected articles will be introduced during the course.

All students are offered an opportunity to give oral or written feedback at the end of the course. A summary of the results will be made available. The students are also given a possibility to offer feedback through the course council.