Nationalism clearly seems to be on the upsurge in the world today, and this phenomenon raises a number of interesting and important questions. In this course we address some key issues relating to nationalism, such as: What is a nation? What is national identity? What is nationalism? Is it distinguishable from patriotism? Are there different kinds of nationalism? Why does nationalism occur in some places and times, and not in others? Is nationalism a dangerous and malignant force in the world today? Or does it have something good to offer people around the world? As we address these questions, we will focus much of our discussion on the post-Communist countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, where issues related to nationalism are obviously of great contemporary importance. During each week of the course we will examine a number of academic articles which explore different aspects of nationalism. We will seek to understand these interpretations, and to critically compare and evaluate them. By the end of the course you will have a much more disciplined and educated understanding of this turbulent force in the modern world.

SCHEDULE OF LECTURES AND READINGS

1. Why Study Nationalism?

Vesna Pesic, "The Cruel Face of Nationalism," Journal of Democracy (October, 1993), pp. 100-103.

Charles Tilly, "National Self-Determination as a Problem for All of Us," Daedalus (Summer, 1993), pp. 29-36.

Jacob W. Kipp, "The Zhirinovsky Threat," Foreign Affairs (May/June 1994), pp. 72-86.

2. Defining and Conceptualizing Nationalism: The Debates

William Pfaff, The Wrath of Nations: Civilization and the Furies of Nationalism (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993), pp. 12-58.

Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism (London: Verso Press, 1991), pp. 1-46.

John A. Hall, "Nationalisms: Classified and Explained," Daedalus (Summer, 1993), pp. 1- 28.

Katherine Verdery, "Whither 'Nation' and 'Nationalism'," Daedalus (Summer, 1993), pp. 37- 45.

Walker Connor, Ethnonationalism: The Quest for Understanding (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994), pp. 90-117.

Arthur N. Waldron, "Theories of Nationalism and Historical Explanations," World Politics (April, 1985), pp. 416-433.

Ernst B. Haas, "What is Nationalism and Why Should We Study It?" International Organization (Summer, 1986), pp. 707-744.

3. Nationalism, Modernity, and Religion: A Bloody Crossroads?

Gertrude Himmelfarb, "The Dark and Bloody Crossroads: Where Nationalism and Religion Meet," The National Interest (Summer, 1993), pp. 53-61.

Benjamin I. Schwartz, "Culture, Modernity, and Nationalism--Further Reflections," Daedalus (Summer, 1993), pp. 207-225.

4. Is "Liberal" Nationalism a Possibility?

Michael Lind, "In Defense of Liberal Nationalism," Foreign Affairs (May/June, 1994), pp. 87-99.

Gidon Gottlieb, "Nations without States," Foreign Affairs (May/June, 1994), pp. 100-112.

Robert Fox, "Nationalism: Hymns Ancient and Modern," The National Interest (Spring, 1994), pp. 51-57.

5. Nationalism and War: What is the Relationship?

Stephen Van Evera, "Hypotheses on Nationalism and War," International Security (Spring, 1994), pp. 5-39.

6. Nationalism and Democracy in the Aftermath of Communism

Victor Zaslavksy, "Nationalism and Democratic Transition in Postcommunist Societies," Daedalus (Spring, 1992), pp. 97-121.

7. The Nature and Future of Ukrainian Nationalism

Norman Stone, "The Mark of History," The National Interest (Spring, 1992), pp. 29-37.

George Urban, "The Awakening," The National Interest (Spring, 1992), pp. 39-46.

Charles F. Furtado, Jr. "Nationalism and Foreign Policy in Ukraine," Political Science Quarterly (Volume 109, No. 1, 1994), pp. 81-104.

8. The Nature and Future of Russian Nationalism

Walter Laqueur, "Russian Nationalism," Foreign Affairs (Winter, 1992-93), pp. 103-116.

Hugh Seton-Watson, "Russian Nationalism in Historical Perspective," in Robert Conquest, ed. The Last Empire: Nationality and the Soviet Future (Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution Press, 1986), pp. 14-29.

Jack Snyder, "Russian Backwardness and the Future of Europe," Daedalus (Spring, 1994), pp. 179-201.

Jessica Eve Stern, "Moscow Meltdown," International Security (Spring, 1994), pp. 40-65.

Sergei Stankevich, "Russia in Search of Itself," The National Interest (Summer, 1992), and "Comments" by Leon Aron, Francis Fukuyama, Jim Hoagland, Bruce D. Porter, pp. 47-55.

Gail W. Lapidus, "From Democratization to Disintegration: The Impact of Perestroika on the National Question," in Gail W. Lapidus, Victor Zaslavsky, with Philip Goldman, eds. From Union to Commonwealth (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992), pp. 45-70.

9. The Fate of Western European Nationalism

Mattei Dogan, "The Decline of Nationalisms within Western Europe," Comparative Politics (1992), pp. 281-305.

10. Nationalism in Decline?

Eugene Kamenka, "Nationalism: Ambiguous Legacies and Contingent Futures," Political Studies (1993), pp. 78-92.

Liah Greenfield, "Transcending the Nation's Worth," Daedalus (Summer, 1993), pp. 47-62.

Michael Mann, "Nation-States in Europe and Other Continents: Diversifying, Developing, Not Dying," Daedalus (Summer, 1993), pp. 115-139.

Tom Nairn, "Internationalism and the Second Coming," Daedalus (Summer, 1993), pp. 155-170.

James Kurth, "The Post-Modern State," The National Interest (Summer, 1992), pp. 26-35.