| Unit name | Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in South Asia |
|---|---|
| Unit code | POLI20009 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Wyatt |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The unit introduces students to the politics of modern South Asia. The focuses are on the politics of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The unit will provide a broad overview of politics in this region beginning with a survey of the colonial period of state formation, early nation building and the uneven consolidation of political institutions. The unit examines conflicts that have complicated the process of nation building. These include the 1947 partition of India, the divide between West and East Pakistan, the conflict over Kashmir and the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is an optional year 2 unit. It introduces students to vital aspects of politics in the Global South, including anti-colonial nationalism, the building of nation states and institutions used to manage ethnic conflict. Well known concepts, such as nationalism, are subject to critical analysis in the light of non-Western cases.
An overview of content
The unit surveys the anti-colonial struggle that culminated in the formation of the post-colonial states of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The process of nation building with special reference to ethnic conflict is assessed. The unit concludes with a survey of contemporary challenges in South Asia.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will learn about rich empirical cases that are key states in the Global South. They will appreciate how South Asia complicates and deepens our understanding of comparative politics. They will gain a critical understanding of the historical processes that contribute to nation formation and the legacies for politics in contemporary South Asia.
Learning Outcomes
Lectures: will give an overview of the political history of South Asia and introduce key themes and concepts. The lectures will show how different topics connect and give a sense of the unit as a whole. Each week has two lectures, with the second lecture being a ‘response’ lecture.
Required readings: the core readings offer a range of conceptual interpretations and identify debates in the literature. Students are expected to read these critically, in the light of the lectures and to identify how the different readings speak to each other. A number of scholarly podcasts are used to introduce diverse material and sharpen students’ ability to think critically. Two or three readings are identified each week.
Seminars: provide opportunities to assess the readings, share questions and work through the logic of arguments deployed in the literature and lectures.
Recommended asynchronous resources: Additional resources are identified for each weekly topic. Some of this is reading to go with the response lecture. Additional material, including videos, podcasts and readings are identified as routes to further learning. Resources useful for potential essays and the final exam are also identified.
Recommended/further readings/resources: a longer list of further reading is identified to assist with further learning, essay and exam preparation. Students are provided with a gloss for the essay assignment which reflects on the questions, shows how core readings are relevant for more than ‘one week’, and identifies further resources for personal research.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
There are no formative assessments on this unit, however the assessments will be given a high profile in seminars and lectures with reflections on the content and structure of essays. Feedback will be given on seminar interventions with a special focus on how to develop analytical insights and use conceptual material to interpret empirical evidence. Feedback will be returned on essay plans.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A 2,000 word essay due in week 7 (25%) - ILO 1, 2, 3. The essay develops the important academic skill of researching empirical evidence, sifting that evidence, assessing its significance, organising that evidence and integrating a body of evidence into a persuasive argument. Analytical skills are developed as the evidence is used to assess the validity of theories and concepts used in the unit. The outcome will demonstrate the ability to integrate empirical evidence into comparative arguments sustained in a substantial piece of written work.
An unseen exam in the assessment period (75%) - ILO 1, 2, 3. This assessment develops the skills of synthesis and interpretation. The exam builds on feedback for the essay, and is linked to a revision strategy outlined in lectures. The revision strategy identifies avenues for synthesis and interpretation. The synthesis worked up in the revision strategy will identifying recurring themes and inspire reflection on the unit as a whole.
When assessment does not go to plan
You will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLI20009).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
