ECTS:

4

Code:

ΚΕ0Χ08

Cycle / Level:

Undergraduate

Compulsory / Optional:

Optional

Teaching Period:

Winter

Course Content:

The course “Nationalism: Ideologies and Practices” examines the fundamental approaches to the concepts of nation and nationalism, including the comparative study of those terms and their development in different geographical areas and times. The focus is, on the one hand, on the issue of the development of the national sentiment, that is what leads people to feel and believe they belong to a nation, and on the other hand, the issue of history of the concept of the nation.
The course also examines specific contemporary and recent historical examples regarding the practical results of the ideologies of nationalism, among which WWI, the civil war in Yugoslavia, and the Great Idea. A crucial example in the examination of the ideology of nationalism is the recent Prespes Agreement, which can be seen as a contemporary example of (re)construction of national identities.
To better understand nationalism, in the context of an introductory course, important concepts and parameters of nationalism are examined, like language or the relationship of nationalism with the past and historical memory. The course explores theories of the ideology of nationalism, including primordialism, perennialism, postcolonialist approach, as well as the perspective of those who remain critical toward the nationalist dogma, and also includes more modern versions of nationalism, such as neo-nationalism, native nationalism or black nationalism, and of course, its relationship with the state.

With the completion of the course students will acquire a basic knowledge of the classic and most important theories of nation and nationalism and they will cultivate critical thinking. They will also acquire a sufficient degree of comprehension of the ideologies of nationalism and capability to recognize them on a practical level and in the realm of politics with specific case studies; will be familiarized with the most fundamental concepts of the ideology of nationalism and with concepts that have shaped contemporary history, not just in the world but also in our region and country. With this course the students will acquire reading and writing skills, as well as correct usage and transfer of complex concepts and ideas in a clear and concise way both orally and in writing.