Instructors
Gi-Wook Shin - Professor, Department of Sociology

The concept of nation has been a major form of collective identity in the modern era.  Yet its understanding remains remarkably elusive and its importance has been under-appreciated in comparison to other forms of identity such as class and gender.  Nationalism is also among the defining phenomenon of the modern epoch but its origins and politics—despite a burst of recent scholarship—have not been as well conceived as other defining characteristics such as capitalism and revolution.  This seminar will survey major works in the study of nations and nationalism from a comparative perspective by focusing on Europe and East Asia.    

This is a reading course, not a research seminar.  No research or research paper is required but extensive reading is expected.  The course will primarily run in seminar format along with a brief introductory lecture by the instructor.  The course requires (1) critical thinking and analytical reading of the works assigned each week; (2) active participation in class discussion; and (3) initiation of discussion in the form of short (5-10 minutes), clearly focused presentations of the assigned readings.  It is crucial for students to prepare for class discussion by completing assigned readings before each class time.

Level
Graduate and undergraduate

Department
Department of Sociology
School of Humanities and Sciences