IR5924 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Thurs 2-3 (Lect) Thurs 3-4 (Tut)

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr D Muro

Dr D Muro
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr D Muro

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The goal of the module is to familiarise students with different approaches that seek to explain how ethnicity and nationhood are created and maintained, how different forms of ethnic conflict and ethnic violence come about, and what possible mechanisms to contain nationalism and ethnic conflict are. The module takes a comparative and historical perspective and employs a variety of theoretical approaches to tackle the issues at hand, including primordial, constructivist, and instrumental approaches to identity, and rational-choice arguments, Marxism, institutionalism, and culturalist approaches to explain ethnic conflict. Thus, the module aims to support students to become more savvy in understanding, appreciating, and critiquing existing works on the topic, skills that in turn should help them to pursue their own research on nationalism and ethnic conflict, if they so choose.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

No re-assessment available

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1-hour lecture and 1-hour seminar (x 11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

22

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

269

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Develop a critical understanding of ethnic and nationalist conflicts within the context of a multidisciplinary approach to security studies
  • Evaluate historical and contemporary ethno-nationalist conflicts around the world and identify the cultural, economic and political root causes
  • Critically evaluate the policy, strategy and tactics of state responses as well as their effectiveness
  • Formulate clear and concise written arguments in a range of formats, supported by academic evidence
  • Skills of literature search, the use of open source material, and an introduction to basic and principal elements of conflict analysis
  • Develop skills in research design and analysis using qualitative and quantitative techniques