Ethnic Conflicts

The fall of the Berlin Wall on 11/9/1989 through the destruction of the Twin Towers on 9/11/2001 marked a pivotal epoch that bridged millennia and shattered the peace. This course analyzes the dynamics of ethnic conflict in comparative perspective emphasizing the influence of culture, history, identity, leadership, and nationalism as well as the evolving influence, constructive and destructive, of new technologies. The arguments of Appadurai, Kapuscinski, Jesse and Williams, and Fukuyama are analyzed with those of other analysts to provide a conceptual orientation for our interactions with scholars and practitioners in the field. Our understanding of conflict in Guatemala, Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, and India in the late 20th and early 21st century impact on the way in which relations among nations after the Cold War were interpreted ¿ less rational and structural, as during the period 1945-89 ¿ and influenced more by culture, identity, and religion. A discussion of specific conflicts in terms of the primordial (ancient hatreds) and social constructionist schools (elite (political entrepreneur) manipulation/ modernization), complements our analysis of factors having an impact on deep-rooted conflict, namely, decolonization, the end of the Cold War, and the state in crisis. Modules dedicated to racial tensions in America are integrated as well into the seminar design. There are no prerequisites to enroll in this course, but it is recommended to take GLOB1-GC1000 International Relations before this course if you don¿t have a previous background or equivalent study in the area.