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75790-01 - Practical course: Diasporic Liminality: Identity Paradoxes and Belonging Dilemmas (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers |
Marzhan Nurzhan
Berihun Wagaw (berihun.wagaw@unibas.ch) |
| Content | The course begins by providing an overview on diaspora studies and moves towards examining contemporary scholarly debates on defining a concept of diasporic identity and belonging. The following questions are addressed throughout the course: How identities of diaspora are formed, transformed, shaped, contested and negotiated? In search of and claim for belonging, how do diasporic communities relate to the spaces of homeland, host society and transnational networks? What kind of agency diasporic communities perform and experience positionality in construction of their intersectional identities such as ethnic, national, racial, religious, gender, etc.? Through which (artistic, cultural, literary and cinematic) mean(ing)s do diasporic communities demonstrate their identity and explore the dynamics of belonging? What challenges and opportunities arise for diasporic communities to express themselves in host societies? How do diasporic communities participate in policy and decision-making processes to promote their inclusion and equal participation in a multi-cultural host society? How do they influence policies and political decisions at transnational level e.g. in their home-country? This course will discuss the meanings, experiences and perceptions of identity and belonging from threefold perspectives: first, how the diasporic communities perceive themselves; second, how they are perceived by their country of origin, and third, how they are perceived by the host country/country of residence. As top-down approaches tend to frame and study diaspora primarily as potentially influential transnational political actors who mobilize social, political, cultural and economic forces and transfer knowledge and capital to their “imaginary” country of origin. The course therefore seeks to examine reality and expectations of the country of origin and the host country towards the diaspora community and how the diaspora community negotiates its identity and belonging in these circumstances. |
| Learning objectives | By the end of the course, students should be able to: • understand the core concepts of diaspora and its liminality, identity negotiation, and belonging • expand their academic horizons on diaspora identity negotiation and sense of belonging within their community, host society and at transnational level • gain more comprehensive and holistic understanding to multifaceted dimensions and dynamics of diasporic identity and belonging • critically approach research studies of diasporic communities and contexts based on the knowledge acquired during the course • get familiar with basic cultural sensitivities while pursuing (further) research and endeavors on diaspora studies, testimonies, experiences and reflections |
| Bibliography | 1. Anderson, B. (2006). Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, Revised Edition Verso. 2. Cohen, R. (2022). Global Diasporas: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Routledge. 3. Crenshaw, K. (2017). On Intersectionality: Essential Writings. Faculty Books. 4. Fredrik, B. (1969). Ethnic Groups and Boundaries: The Social Organization of Culture Difference. 5. Maiangwa, B. (2023). The Paradox(es) of Diasporic Identity, Race, and Belonging. In: Maiangwa, B. (eds) The Paradox(es) of Diasporic Identity, Race and Belonging. Politics of Citizenship and Migration. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. 6. Yuval-Davis, N. (2016). Power, Intersectionality and the Politics of Belonging. In W. Harcourt (Ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Gender and Development: Critical Engagements in Feminist Theory and Practice. Palgrave Macmillan UK. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 20.02.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 27.02.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 06.03.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 13.03.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Fasnachstferien |
| Thursday 20.03.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 27.03.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 03.04.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 10.04.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 17.04.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Ostern |
| Thursday 24.04.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 01.05.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Tag der Arbeit |
| Thursday 08.05.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 15.05.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 22.05.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 104 |
| Thursday 29.05.2025 | 14.15-16.00 | Auffahrt |
| Modules |
Modul: Themen der Nahoststudien (Bachelor's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Modul: Themen der Near & Middle Eastern Studies (Master's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Module: Europeanization and Globalization (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Module: Fields: Governance and Politics (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Migration, Mobility and Transnationalism (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Specialization Module Global Europe: Work, Migration and Society (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Zentrum für Afrikastudien |