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| Semester | fall semester 2023 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Julie Bernath (julie.bernath@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Diaspora communities are routinely seen as an illustration of the deep cross-border connections that characterise our contemporary globalised world. Their existence unsettles traditional conceptions of political and social life organised around notions of ‘inside’ vs. ‘outside’, as well as traditional understandings of the state, national identity, or sovereignty. As such, diasporas have captured the imagination of scholars from multiple disciplines. Diaspora communities have also become coveted by policymakers, state authorities and civil society actors as partners in development or peacebuilding projects; yet at the same time they are also scrutinised with suspicion as transporting conflicts across national borders, as disrupting peace processes or as entertaining long-distance nationalism. This seminar examines diaspora politics as transnational processes in world politics. It will be organised in three main parts. First, we will start with definitional debates on diaspora (Part I). How does this analytical concept relate to other concepts such as citizens, migrants, expats, or refugees? Can we define diaspora based on a selected list of criteria, or do diasporas only come into existence as a process, through political mobilisation? In this first part of the seminar, we will also engage with gendering diaspora; decolonial and post-colonial approaches to the study of diaspora politics; and methodological and ethical questions that arise when researching diaspora politics. Second, we will move to an analysis of diaspora as transnational political actors (Part II). What factors influence diaspora mobilisation in and across host country contexts, over time, spaces and across generations? How does diaspora mobilisation unfold in contexts of authoritarianism? How do digital technologies shape diaspora mobilisation? Finally, we will look at diaspora politics from the perspective of critical peace and conflict studies (Part III). A range of empirical examples will provide a differentiated overview of the various roles of diaspora groups in homeland conflicts and peacebuilding initiatives, including transitional justice processes. This will take us beyond binary narratives of diaspora groups as either ‘peace-makers’ or ‘peace-wreckers’. We will also critically reflect upon the different ways in which policy-makers and various actors in the field of civilian peacebuilding have increasingly tried to engage with diaspora groups. Throughout the seminar, we will draw on case studies from various contexts to animate our conceptual, theoretical, and methodological discussions. |
| Learning objectives | By the end of the seminar, students should be able to: - discuss competing academic definitions and key debates on diaspora, and their implications for research on diaspora politics; - discern ethical challenges and the implications of methodological choices for conducting research on diaspora politics; - understand different approaches that help to explain and analyse diaspora mobilisation; - have a differentiated understanding of the various roles that diaspora play in peacebuilding through an overview of contemporary research at the intersection of diaspora studies and critical peace & conflict studies; - reflect critically upon how state authorities, policymakers and other actors (in particular in the field of civilian peacebuilding) engage with diaspora groups in (post-)conflict settings. |
| Comments | The course requires knowledge in qualitative and quantitative methods, as provided in the BA methods courses taught in the Department of Social Sciences. Attention: All Seminars will be graded in the Department of Political Science. Grading scale 6.0 to 1.0, whereupon 4.0 is a pass. The number of participants is limited. The places are assigned according to date of enrollment and subject of study. Priority will be given to students of Political Science. |
| Admission requirements | The course requires knowledge in qualitative and quantitative methods, as provided in the BA methods courses taught in the Department of Social Sciences. Attention: All Seminars will be graded in the Department of Political Science. Grading scale 6.0 to 1.0, whereupon 4.0 is a pass. The number of participants is limited. The places are assigned according to date of enrollment and subject of study. Priority will be given to students of Political Science. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Monday | 10.15-11.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Modules |
Modul: Europäisierung und Globalisierung (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Modul: Regionaler Fokus M.A. (Master's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Transfer: Europa interdisziplinär (Master's degree program: European History in Global Perspective) Modul: Vertiefung Politikwissenschaft M.A. (Master's degree subject: Political Science) 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) Vertiefungsmodul Global Europe: Arbeit, Migration und Gesellschaft (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Vertiefungsmodul Global Europe: Regional Integration and Global Flows (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 | 1-6 0,5 |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Politikwissenschaft |