Nationalism and Ethno-Religious Conflict

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Professor Matthijs van den Bos
• Tutor: Professor Alex Colas
• Assessment: a take-home test (90%) and seminar log (10%)

This module considers ethnic secession and violent conflict, past and present. Drawing on theories of nationalism, ethnic and religious conflict, it asks why some nations seek to secede, and why some ethnic and religious movements turn violent. It inquires into the relationship between ethnic divisions, nationalism and democratisation.

Indicative module syllabus

• Ethnic Violence and Genocide
• Democratisation and Ethnic Parties
• Micro-foundations of Civil War: Outbidding, Spoilers, Militias
• Secularisation Debate
• Nationalism and Religion
• Religion and Violence

By the end of this module, you will:

• understand the strengths and weaknesses of the dominant theories of nationalism and ethno-religious conflict
• be able to apply these theories to concrete historical and contemporary cases of violent conflict, secession and democratisation
• have detailed substantive knowledge of national, ethnic and religious conflicts in several settings
• have gained cognitive skills, including critical evaluation and analytical investigation
• be able to synthesise a variety of materials to explain and support your own arguments concerning the key problems of ethnic, national and religious conflict.