Instructor: Jocelyne Cesari
Nationalism is not simply an ideology: it is also a set of practices by which territory, political power and the cultural identity of the people that inhabit this territory are constituted in a unique and singular fact. The religious dimension of nationalism has been infrequently analyzed by historians and even less so by social scientists who, operating under the influence of theories of modernization, have perceived nationalism and religion as incompatible. In the last three decades however, with the growth of religious claims in diverse national and international contexts, scholars have started to explore the connection between religion and nationalism. In this course we shall:
- analyze the historical links between religion and nation in Western Europe and the United States from the rise of the nation-state until today.
- explore the diffusion of the concept of nation-state worldwide and its consequences on the politicization of religion in diverse countries: Turkey, India, Russia and China.
- discuss religious nationalism “beyond nations” as exemplified by the globalization of religiously-based political claims from Islamism to evangelicalism .
The scope of religions and national cultures covered in class will help students understand the major issues at stake such as state and religion relationships, religiously based political parties and movements, populism, anti Semitism and islamophobia.
The enrollment is limited to 15 students. The instructor will select students on a first come, first served basis between January 26 (day of the first class) and January 31.