Nationalism and the State: Themes and Perspectives from Contemporary South and Southeast Asia
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PHIR3005 | Politics and International Relations | 3 | 20 | Spring Malaysia |
- Code
- PHIR3005
- School
- Politics and International Relations
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring Malaysia
Summary
This module evaluates the rise of the modern nation-state in the region through the lens of the Nationalism literature and key debates therein. It focuses on the evolution of Nationalism, both as a field as a scholarly enquiry and as an evolving and trenchant source of debate within global and regional politics. The module will elucidate the key strands and debates within the Nationalism Studies literature and will juxtapose these against the evolution of the modern nation-state in contemporary South and Southeast Asia. The module builds on the first and second year curriculums and will challenge students to understand Nationalism as a potent and multifaceted provocateur within the study of International Relations - shaping national, regional and transnational politics. Beyond the core scholarly debates that frame Nationalism Studies, the module will look at the expanding theoretical terrain, including the reproduction of nationalism and its use in the region as dynamic mechanism engaged by nation-states to foster political solidarity. Further themes of analysis include: civic and ethno-cultural versions of the state, the rise of religious nationalism and the problem of ethnicity. This module will serve as a preparation for students wanting to do Honours research projects that involve analysis of themes related to Nationalism.
Target Students
PHIR Available to JYA/Erasmus students. Not available in session.
Classes
- One 2-hour tutorial each week for 10 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 40% Coursework 1: Nationalism Country Report (2000 words)
- 40% Coursework 2: Major Essay (2500 words)
- 10% Presentation 1: Case Presentation
- 10% Participation: Active Class Participation
Educational Aims
By the end of the module students will:• engage with different theoretical approaches in nationalism studies;• gain an understanding of development of Nationalism as a tool for dynamicpolitical change in contemporary South/Southeast Asia;• investigate the breadth of issues within the Nationalism in contemporarySouth/Southeast Asia;• prepare students theoretically for honours research projects;Learning Outcomes
a) Knowledge and understanding:
• Demonstrate knowledge of the subject of Nationalism Studies and how issues and theories can be interpreted in different ways (to be assessed by coursework);
• Demonstrate a knowledge of the appropriate literatures in relation toNationalism Studies and evolution of modern nation states in contemporary South/Southeast Asia;
b) Intellectual skills
• Think reflectively and critically about the connection between theoryand empirical analysis;
• Assess a variety of approaches and methods for the study ofNationalism Studies;
c) Professional and practical skills
• Evidence gathering and evaluation;
• Advanced writing skills under exam conditions;
• independent learning.
d) Transferable (key) skills
Through active participation in the modulestudents will acquire:
• the capacity to engage in a structured and well informed discussionabout complex questions (to be practised in class discussions);
• the capacity to concentrate on core points and the ability to speak onthe basis of a set of notes (to be practised in oral presentations inclass);
• the ability to write in a structured and concise way (to beassessed in coursework);
• the skill to develop a structured argument in a longer piece of work (to be assessed in coursework);
Conveners
- Ying Chan Ho