Between ´Us´ and ´Others´: Ethnicity, Transnationalism and Identity Strategies
Code
722001031
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Sociologia
Credits
10
Weekly hours
3 letivas + 1 tutorial
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) Conceptual issues (identity processes, ethnic identifications, inter-ethnic conflicts, etc.)
b) Identifying the central role of identity processes in spatial, economic and symbolic organization of the worldsystem;
c) Ability to formulate proposals for analysis and intervention in inter-ethnic conflicts.
d) Ability to advise political and administrative bodies in policymaking concerning interethnic recognition and reconciliation.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
1. Conceptual issues concerning identity, identity processes, social representations of identity, emotions and identity conflicts, ethnic identifications, ethnocentrism, antagonist acculturation and socio-cultural change
2. Theoretical and practical discussion of the concept of ethnicity
3. Identity management of ethnicity
4. Ethnicity and the geo-strategical dimension of the history of the organization of the world system
5. Ethnicity, migratory processes and transnationalization
6. Ethnicity and identity reconstruction from memory
7. Ethnicity relations with the social organization of violence
8. Emancipation policies, recognition policies and interethnic reconciliation policies.
Bibliography
Barth, F. (1998) Ethnic Groups and Boundaries, Prospect Heights, Waveland Press, Inc.
Bastos, J. (2000) Portugal Europeu, Oeiras, Celta.
Bastos, J. e Bastos, S. (2010) «What are we talking about when we talk about identity?», in Westin et all,, eds. Identity Processes and Dynamics in Multiethnic Europe, Amst.: Amsterdam Univ. Press.
Bastos, S. e Bastos, J. (2005) «Our Colonisers Were Better than Yours»: Identity Debates in Greater London, in Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 31, 1, pp. 79-98.
(2006) Filhos Diferentes de Deuses Diferentes. Lisboa: Observatório da Imigração.
Niessen, J. et al (2007) MIPEX Index de Políticas de Integração de Migrantes. Lisboa, British Council e F. Gulbenkian.
Scheff, Th. [1994] Emotions and Identity. A Theory of Ethnic Nacionalism, in Calhoun, C. (ed) Social Theory and the Politics of Identity, Cambridge, Blackwell.
Tajfel, H. (1981) Human Groups and Social Categories. Studies in Social Psychology. Cambridge, Camb. Univ. Press
Teaching method
Lectures introducing the major topics of the course, and presentation and discussion of selected readings by the students.
Evaluation method
Assessment:
1. Term paper (60%), either a review article or an empirical study. Papers are presented and discussed during the last sessions of the curricular unit;
2. Attendance, participation and presentations in class (40%).