Description
Considering the kind of political salience nationalism has attained lately with the ascent of right-wing nationalist forces in the West and parts of Global South to the very centre of power, it should be safe to assume that nationalism is one of the most significant and consequential features of contemporary political life. In this course, we will explore this incredibly enduring and complex political phenomenon across time and place from multiple perspectives. The challenge would be to ferret out the common thread that explains the rise of nationalism -in its inextricably linked historical and contemporary manifestations- in a deeply interconnected world. The course will set off with the discussion of the concepts and theories of nationalism. Special attention will be given to the debates that the " National Question " generated in the West in the first half of the 20th century as well as to the institutional arrangements that were set up to address it. Alongside this, we will discuss the perspectives of some prominent contemporary European thinkers on the ascendance of fascism in the interwar years. Students will be encouraged to critically engage with these theories, ideas, and past experiences and to consider, in particular, what insights they might afford to us for comprehending contemporary developments. Following this, we will turn our focus to anti -colonial nationalisms in Global South. Besides underscoring their emancipatory and progressive aspects, we will also be looking at their limitations and the contradictions that they spawned which in turn have led to civil wars, secessionist movements, majoritarianism, outright dictatorships and the growth of other retrogressive trends. To deepen our understanding further, we will examine the role of colonial legacies , neo-colonialism and neoliberalism in compounding the woes of post-colonial nation states in the regions such as the Middle East , Africa and South Asia and also how their interplay has contributed to the emergence of various crises especially the " Migrant crisis" in the West and the rise of extreme nationalist forces. This course would also feature a discussion on active and longstanding nationalist movements in places like Palestine and Scotland. Moreover, we will probe how the United Nations has dealt with the traditional "National Question " and what it is doing to address the threats emanating from the rise of far-right in the West and elsewhere .During the final weeks of the course , we would consider various constitutional, political, social and cultural visions, imaginaries and pathways that could help manage the issue of diversity in inclusive and humane ways.
Learning Objectives
An endeavour will be made to:
Enable students to develop acute historical and theoretical understanding with a view to strengthen their analytical and interpretive abilities.
Familiarize students with the works of major thinkers from the West and Global South.
Encourage students to read across the disciplines and to engage creatively with unconventional yet critical sources to enrich their understanding.
Mode of Instruction
Assessment Method
Literature
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Registration
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Timetable
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