Ethnicity, Migration and Politics of Identity

The course focuses on the cultural and ethnic dimensions of migration and diaspora studies with the focus on aspects of identity politics. Students will learn how current anthropological approaches to the politics of identity in global contexts can provide a new ways of understanding of social bonds (in terms of ethnicity) , mobility (in terms of transnational migration) as well as people‘s loyalty to “old“ places and the emergence of transnational “new places”. They will also be introduced to the importance of applying a comparative perspective to patterns of migration and politics of identity in different areas of the world. The case of migration from postsocialist Eastern Europe to North America is scrutinized as examples.

The students will learn to identify and analyze ethnic dimensions of migration and diaspora studies by applying anthropological approaches in studying diversity and (conflicted) outcomes of the encounter of local/transnational/global developments with the politics of identities.

The course focuses on the cultural and ethnic dimensions of migration and diaspora studies with the focus on aspects of identity politics. Students will learn how current anthropological approaches to the politics of identity in global contexts can provide a new ways of understanding of social bonds (in terms of ethnicity) , mobility (in terms of transnational migration) as well as people‘s loyalty to “old“ places and the emergence of transnational “new places”. They will also be introduced to the importance of applying a comparative perspective to patterns of migration and politics of identity in different areas of the world. The case of migration from postsocialist Eastern Europe to North America is scrutinized as examples.

1. Testing or written examination 2. Monitoring discussions and debates 3. Evaluation of report, project, essay