DIPL 6001 AA The Politics of Cultural and Ethnic Diversity in the Contemporary World

Current challenges to multiculturalism and peaceful coexistence of various groups in the US, South East Asia and beyond challenge us to re-examine various models of dealing with cultural and ethnic diversity at the level of states, societies, and local communities. This course examines these issues through a focus on the ‘organization of diversity’. After an examination of the development of the concept of ‘nation’ and its political uses, it proceeds to an analysis of different models of recognizing (or not) this diversity and organizing it as part of the institutional setup of the state and its policies. Among the case studies to be examined in the course are those of the former Soviet states, the Moslem World and Northern Africa, Western Europe, Latin America and South East Asia. The last sessions of the course will be devoted in the last sessions, where we will apply the discussion of original research by the students, where some of the concepts and methods learned from the other cases to additional case studies. The main goal of the course is to apply theoretical and policy concepts to a variety of case studies in a critical and productive way. Having completed the course, students should be able to apply the concepts, skills and competencies acquired to analyze more effectively the variety of cases he or she will encounter on over the course of his or her career