Despite claims about – or hopes for – its impending demise, nationalism remains an ideology of central importance in contemporary Europe and beyond.  Students completing this course will be grounded in key theories that seek to understand the emergence of nationalism in the modern world and account for its enduring appeal, whilst explaining some of its manifest limitations.  Students will then be given the opportunity to test some of these theories with case studies drawn from contemporary Europe, helping them to formulate their own opinions about this contentious ideology.

• The basic skill taught in this course is the ability to comprehend a theory and then apply it to a case study;
• Students will be able to identify and comprehend the major theories used to understand the existence and presistence in nationalism in contemporary Europe;
• Students will be able to comprehend and contribute to normative debates about nations, nationalism and national identity;
• Students will be able to draft a research essay and improve on that draft via group learning and collaboration.

2500 word research essay (60%), 1500 word take home exam or synpotic essay (40%).

20 Lectures and 10 seminar forums and 3 compulsory research essay workshops plus a weekly on-line discussion forum in addition ot office hour consultations.

Any first year POLS, International Relations or EURO course.

A knowledge of modern European history will help to understadn the theories on which this course rests.  EURO1004 Europe in the Modern Era: the foundations of international relations is therefore the best course to have completed.

Day, Graham and Thompson, Andrew. 2004. Theorizing Nationalism. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Ozkirimli, Umut. 2005. Contemporary Debates on Nationalism. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

This course can be counted towards a Contemporary Europe, International Relations or Political Science Major.

This course is incompatible with HIST2217 'Being British: National Identity in the United Kingdom 1880s -1950s'.