The course explores critically important theories of ethnicity and nationalism, with focus on their relevance for cases within the Central Asian states: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Topics covered will include the concepts of ethnicity and nation, the economic and political foundations of nationalism, the construction of national ideologies, the relationship between ethnicity and the state, nation-building process in post-Soviet Central Asia, the interethnic relations in Central Asia etc. Comparative discussions enable analysis of readings on Central Asia. While various approaches are presented, stress is on viewing ethnicity and nationalism as socio-politically constructed. Debates concerning nationalism, empire, post-colonialism, multiethnic state formation, nation state models, borders, interethnic conflict are covered. Course combines lectures, which introduce empirical data and methodological approaches, with seminars.
