Nations and Nationalisms

general courses

Classroom

The main goal of the course is to enable students to understand better concepts of nation and nationalism as well as nation formation processes that are of crucial importance for contemporary politics.

The seminar will introduce students to the problems of nations and nationalisms, which are of key importance to contemporary politics within the European Union, Europe and all over the world. Following a number of classical readings on the subject we will discuss the concepts of nation (cultural and political), nationalism, nation formation processes, connections between nation and state, nation and modernity, and finally, nation and the EU.

The seminar should also help students to improve their skills of reading, understanding and discussing academic literature, necessary for those who intend to conduct their own research in the future

Student's workload

lecture - 15 hrs

reading in foreign language - 60 hrs

preparation to the lecture - 30 hrs

preparation to the exam - 75 hrs

total - 180 hrs

• B. Anderson, Introduction, Cultural Roots, in: idem, Imagined Communities. Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, London: Verso, 1985, pp.11-40.

• E. Gellner, Culture and Power, Culture and Organisation, States and Nationalism, The Industrial and Industrialising World, The Plurality of Melting-pots, in: idem, Nationalism, New York: New York University Press, 1997, pp.1-13, 25-36.

• F. Znaniecki The Origin of National Cultures Societies, in: idem, Modern Nationalities: a Sociological Study, Urbana: the University of Illinois Press 1952, pp.23-56.

• I. Berlin, Nationalism: Past Neglect and Present Power, in: idem, Against the Current. Essays in History of Ideas, London: The Hogarth Press 1979, pp.333-355.

• E. Hobsbawm, Introduction: Inventing Traditions, in: The Invention of Tradition, ed. by E. Hobsbawm, T. Ranger, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1992, pp.1-14.

• A.D. Smith, National Identity and the Idea of European Unity, in: idem, Myths and Memories of the Nation, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999, pp.225-251.

At the end of a teaching process a student will:

1. knowledge

• understand such concepts: as political nation, cultural nation, nationalism, national identity

• have a basic knowledge of history and mechanisms of nation formation processes,

• understand basic problems resulting from the attempts to integrate the nations of Europe,

• have basic knowledge of the field of nationalism studies.

2. skills:

• be able to observe and analyze the importance of nations and nationalisms to European politics and social life,

• be able to read and interpret readings in nationalism studies by oneself,

• be able to discuss assigned readings using everyday life examples.

3. attitudes:

• be aware of stereotypes and simplifications concerning nations, that can be observed in contemporary European social life and politics,

• be able to apply her/his theoretical knowledge of nations and nationalisms to analyze current phenomena,

• become more diligent and honest thanks to the necessity of meeting strict course requirements

Grading on the basis of class attendance and participation (50%) as well as an oral exam (50%).