BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO

FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

 

 

 

 

 

POL. 4313: COMPARATIVE ETHNIC RELATIONSNAND CONFLICT

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSTRUCTOR: M. M. YUSIF

 

 

mmyusuf58@yahoo.com

mmyusuf07@gmail.com

polbuk@yahoo.com

http://www.mmyusuf.blogspot.com

Description of the Course

"One world", has settled in the imagination of every human being. Yes! Seen flat and crowded, Todd Simon had observed "This crowded world is cracking asunder. Togetherness is out. It is now a dirty twelve letter world. The 'in' thing is to split, separate, get sore and quit.

 

That was said in 1967. by the end of the century and beginning of the twenty-first century another round of waves of ethnic conflict and national identity question across the globe had broken great nations into separate ethnic-territorial nation-states and in every other places there were divisiveness replica to "time of troubles" that was identified with decline of civilisation.

 

Neo-liberal globalisation has added fuel to these tensions and violence. Market created chaos thereby hastened the break of unity and solidarity in inter-group relations. It is recorded in the history of the development of human society that the world had never seen such a number of cases of ethnic conflicts as in the period under consideration.

 

This development has uncovered another dimension of ethnic and ethnicity to young learners and researchers whose vision about this matter does not go beyond Africa or generally the under-developed part of the world.

 

Nevertheless, there is still a fundamental problem on ethnic conflict studies – which has remained and limited to a problem of updating data rather than rethinking about theory and method on ethnic relations studies.

 

Especially, form political science perspective both students and researchers hardly recognise that the origin of the concepts ethnic and ethnicity are from sociology, anthropology and perhaps demographic studies, so need reconceptualisation by political scientists? Furthermore, the meaning of ethnicity is bound to be from both objective reality and from a subjective criterion. But both are usually lamped together.

 

However, studies of ethnic relations and conflicts have undergone several marked shifts in emphasis, since it becomes a subject for study and research. Search for differences led to interest in uniformities, an interest on social behaviour which gives way to examination of relationships, etc.

 

From theoretical point of consideration, passing through many strands of liberal and nationalist interpretation, now especially in sociology and political science, these studies embrace political economy approach of Marxian tradition showing the relationship of social classes, state and ethnicity.

 

If we take political economy from this tradition which is a science interested in the study of power, social change, and social inequality we find a framework which will throw light on how ethnic relations resulted in conflicts and disorder.

 

Meanwhile, neo-liberal globalisation has resulted in social transformation which has profound effect on ethnic relations and theory formation characteristics of ethnic relations and conflicts in new nations.

 

The objective of this course is to demystify the idea from young learners and researchers that the ethnic, ethnicity and ethnic conflict are phenomena of the new nations that are still incapable of building nations.

 

Subsequently, we are also going to examine strategies for ethnic management. Contemporary experiments show that both political and economic strategies to give democracy in governance and development in economic relations are imperative.

 

The course is presented in four parts of a single body of knowledge. First is the conceptualisation of the ethnic, ethnicity and ethnic conflict as well as varied framework of analysis of the ethnic. Secondly, a comparative approach will be illuminated to cast issues of different ethnic relationships across the globe. Thirdly, many cases of experience of ethnic relations across the globe would be given treatment. Lastly, are different strategies of ethnic conflict management.

 

Topics and Reading

1. General Introduction: Rethinking the study of ethnic conflict; an overview of the course; the topics to be treated; discussion about the recommended readings; Course Requirements; Aid from my website for learning and research, Assessment of the teaching programme by students; other issues; division of students into seminars
   

 

Readings

1. Readings No. 1 to 7 of Pol. 4301 (2010/2011) are still relevant.
   
2. R. A. schermerhorn (1970). Comparative Ethnic Relations: A framework for theory and Research. New York. Random House.
   

 

1. Definition of Key Concepts: ethnic; Ethnicity; Ethnic conflict; Nation; Nationality; Nationalism; Multiculturalism pluralism;
   

 

Readings

1. Ronaldo Munck, The difficult dialogue: Marxism and nationalism. Zed. London
   
2. Jaraslav K. and Vitezalav V. Ethnic and Political nations in Europe (1981). Croom Helm. London. Chapter 3
   
3. G. Glazerman (1979). Classes and Nations. Progress Publishers. Moscow
   
4. Peter A. Nationalism. Chapter 5
   
5. Samir Amin, class and Nation: Historically and in the current crises chapter 1.
   

 

1. The Comparative Approach and Ethnic Relations
   
2. Hod Hague and Martin Harop (2004). Comparative government and politics: An Introduction. Macmillan. New York. Chapter 5
   
3. R. A. Schermerhorn op cit. chapters 6 and 7.
   
4. Nathan G. and Daniel P. M. (1975) Ethnicity: Theory and Experience. Harvard University press. USA. Read the Introduction.
   

 

4. Ethnicity: Some Theoretical Perspectives

Readings

1. R. A. Schermerhorn op. cit. chapter 1
   
2. Nathan G. and Daniel p. M. op. cit. chapter 2 and 3
   
3. Ashley W. D. "Rethinking the National Question: Towards a Theory of Ethnicity and Nationality in the New World Order.
   
4. Bangura Y. The Search for Identity: Ethnicity and Political Violence
   
5. Berch B. "Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in the Age of globalisation.
   
6. Vic Sstzewich (1999). "The Political Economy of Race and Ethnicity". In Peters S. L. (ed.). Race and Ethnic Relations in Canada.
   

 

5. Immigration, Diversity and Ethnic Conflict

Readings

1. Theresa J.F.A. and Others. "Marxist and Non-Marxist Approaches to Migration in Tropical Africa". In African Perspectives Vol. 1 (1978).
   
2. Christian J. "How Immigration is Changing Citizenship: A Comparative View". Ethnic and Racial Studies Vol. 23 No. 4 (1999)
   
3. Peter S. L. op. Cit. Chapter 3
   

 

6. Settlers and Residents: Citizenship Question and Ethnic Conflict

 

Readings

1. Robert V. K. Citizenship and Democracy in Germany: Implications for Understanding Globalisation.
   
2. Stephen Castles, "Hierarchical Citizenship in a World of Unequal Nation-state".
   
3. Victor K. U. "Studies of Ethnic Identity, Ethnic Relations, and Citizenship". In Peter S. L. op. cit.
   
4. Various case studies.
   

 

 

 

7. Regional Studies

1. Europe: Soviet Union, the Baltic region and the subnations of western Europe
   
2. Africa: Nigeria and Botswana
   
3. Asia: China and India
   
4. North America: Canada and USA.
   

 

Readings for Regional Studies

1. William Peterson: "On the Sub-nations of western Europe" in Nathan G. and Daniel P. M. op. cit.
   
2. Richard Pipes. "Reflections on the Nationality Problems in the Soviet Union". In Nathan G. and Daniel P. M. op. cit.
   
3. Jaroslav K. and Vitezslov P. op. cit.
   
4. Stave, L. B. "Nationanalism and Civil Identity: Ethnic Models for Macedonia and Kosovo.
   
5. Arend Lijphart, Democracy in plural Societies.
   
6. Pieire T., State Building and Democracy in southern Africa: Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Part II.
   
7. Various on Nigeria: Among are text edited by festus Okoye and another by E. O. Alemika.
   
8. Nathan G. and Daniel P. M. op. cit. chapter 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 16
   

 

8. Ethnic Conflict Management

 

Readings

1. Ahmad A. H. "The Re: conceptualisation of Conflict Management". Journal of Peace and Development
   
2. Anastasia O. "Institutional tools of Conflict Management – Asymeterical Federalism in Ethnic – territorial conflicts". Journal of Peace, Conflict and Development.
   
3. Arend Liphart. Op. cit.
   
4. Rian L. and Hussaini S. "On Ethnicity and Ethnic Conflict Management in Nigeria". In Africa journal in Conflict Resolution.
   
5. Sule Bello, the Enemy Within: The Challenges of Managing Multiculturelism in Nigeria
   
6. Edward M., Tribe or Nation? Nation Building and Public Goods in Kenya versus Tanzania
   

 

9. Reports on Semester Group Projects and Response Papers

 

10. Concluding Remarks by the Course Instructor on the Course and Performance of the Student During the Course Work; Critical Comment by Student on their class room experience and views on the Subject Matter of the course; eating and chatting

 

Joints Readings

• Peter S. L. (1999) (ed.). Race and Ethnic Relations in Canada
  
• Cheryl H. "The National Question, Ethnic and State: Some insights on South Africa". In Nzongola-Ntalajo and Margaret Lee (eds.). The State and Democracy in Africa.
  
• Judith Gans. "Citizenship in the Context of Globalisation.
  
• Paolo Catenaccro, Between Multiculturalism and Globalisation
  
• Subhabrata B. B. and Stephen L. Globalisation, Multiculturalism and other Fictions. Colonialism for the New Millennium?
  
• Eghosa E. O. "Introduction: Globalisation, Diversity and citizenship". Identity, Culture and Polities Vol. 5 No. 1 and 2 (2004).
  
• Jibrin Ibrahim, "The Transformation of Ethnic – Regional Identities in Nigeria". Conference Paper
  
• Bangura Yusuf, The Search for Identity, Ethnicity and Political Violence.
  
• Bangura Yusuf and Toshihiro Nakama Democratisation and Governance Reform in Plural Societies
  
• John Bower, "The Myth of Global Ethnic Conflict". Journal of Democracy vol. 7 No.4
  
• Fred W. R. Globalisation, Ethnic Diversity and Nationalism: The Challenge for Democracies
  
• James kunth , "Europe's Identity problem and the New Islamist War".
  
• Philip Jenkins, "Demographics, Religion and the future of Europe".
  
• Nnoli O. Ethnic Politics in Nigeria (1978).
  
• Nnoli O. Ethnic Politics in Nigeria (2008).
  
• Remi A. " The changing nature of Ethnic Conflicts: Reflection on the Tiv – Jukun Situation".
  
• Donold E. Horowitz "Ethnic Identity". In Nathan G. and Daniel P. M. op. cit.
  
• Daniel B. "Ethnicity and Social Change". As in Q above
  
• Aaron T. Gana. Federalism in Africa. Vols. 1 and 2
  
• Marina O. Ethnic Politics in Africa: Change and Continuity". In Richard J. (ed.). State Conflict and Democracy in Africa
  
• Doorknobs M. "Linking the Future to the Past: Ethnicity and Pluralism". ROAPE No. 52.
  
• Ifeka Caroline, "Ethnic Nationalities, God and the State: Wither the FRN"? ROAPE No. 55.
  
• Chua Amy. World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability.
  
• Syla, B. "Twilight of Sovereignty on the Emergence of Cosmopolitan Norms Rethinking Citizenship in volatile times".
  
• Zawawi, I. "Globalisation and National Identity. Managing Ethnicity and Cultural Pluralism in Malaysia".
  

 

Course Requirement

• The teaching of the course is by giving lectures. Each topic is expected to be covered in one lecture period. When the duration of the semester is against my plan some topics may be combined for treatment. However, the last 30minutes of each period will be presentation and discussion on chosen text or question.
  
• Assessment of students is based on end of semester examination (70%) and continuous assessment (30%). The CA will be determined by obligatory weekly assignment; active participation in discussing the assignment; a group small research project; research project response paper; a supervised test; ICT usage; attendance;
  
• At the end of the semester each seminar will submit a report on classroom experience
  
• There are many teaching aids on my website which are recommended to enhance the capacity of students in ICT, communicative writing, etc.
  
• In order to purify the system of learning and research I have to take strict disciplinary action against any student who is found on plagiarism. To avoid plagiarism you must not copy or paraphrase someone else work and present it as your own. Again, all texts consulted should be properly acknowledged. The penalty is that any work found to be plagiarism will receive zero. And any student found in two cases of plagiarism will result in being assessed "00" in the overall CA on the course.
  

 

My watch word in last year's teaching is "whatever ideas received from me or from text books given to read are not correct and final. You must challenge and criticize them in order to keep learning". In this academic session is "Education for transformation of individuals as students. Get ready. Each of you is going to show and tell us that he/she has changed, from the time we have started to the end of the course and beyond.

 

M.M. Yusif