Have you answered the course questions What is Ethnicity? and What is Race?
Essay Abstracts
Edit this text to add your abstract here. This is required for access to the exam revision session.
"Evaluate how the PRC has attempted to homogenise Tibetan culture with Chinese culture, and to an extent completely remove it, in relation to Gellner's theory" - abstract by Rose Delamare.
This essay explores the many claims that Tibetan culture has been systematically targeted and corroded by the People's republic of China with their aim being to completely marginalise it. Using examples such as the Chinese destruction of the Tibetan monasteries, restrictions on the use of Tibetan language in schools and the workplace, and allegations that Tibetans who have tried to escape from Chinese control have been imprisoned, tortured and used for shooting practise, this essay argues that China's policies towards Tibet and its people has been inhumane and discriminatory. Using the techniques to homogenise a nation which are outlined by Gellner, it seems that China's ambition to engulf Tibet and its people into Chinese culture and territory has been and still is being demonstrated.
Lecture Reading
Appadurai, A. 1999. ‘Dead certainties. Ethnic violence in the era of globalization’. In Meyer, B. (ed.) Globalization and Identity.
Baumann, Gerd. 1999. The Multicultural Riddle. New York: Routledge. Chapter 6, ‘Religion: baggage or sextant?’
Eller, J.D. 1999. ‘Quebec: Masters of our Own House’. Chapter 7 of J.D. Eller, From Culture to Ethnicity to Conflict.
Summary of Lecture
Edit this page to add notes here! Need inspiration? Try sharing a memorable quote from your notes, or something that you didn't quite understand or would like some help with.
Seminar Reading
Tambiah, Stanley J. 1988. “Ethnic conflict in the world today”. American Ethnologist, 16(2): 335-349 Direct Link.
Bhatt, Chetan and Mukta, Parita. 2000. ‘Hindutva in the West: mapping the antonomies of diaspora nationalism. Ethnic and Racial Studies 23(3):407-41.
*This article is hosted on Ingenta Connect (PDF available here). Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the blue link to the PDF to download. Note: you must be logged in as a library user. The link should take you to an authentication page.
IMPORTANT: To download these articles, you must be logged in as a library user. I have provided direct links which should automatically prompt you for your user ID and password if you are accessing the files off-campus. On-campus users should not have any problems.
If you are still having difficulty, you may need to first authenticate yourself as a library user via this link to Jstor. Alternatively, search for the articles by journal name, then volume and issue number here. You will be prompted to provide your University log in and password.
Summaries and Notes from Seminar and Reading
Edit this page to add notes here! Need inspiration? Try sharing a memorable quote from your notes, or something that you didn't quite understand or would like some help with.
External Materials and Links
Put more links to external sources like journal and newspaper articles, blogs or videos here.
Not ready to edit? Add a comment to the discussion below.
“What were the reasons for racial segregation in South Africa and the consequences that followed?”. The essay addresses the divisions occurring throughout South Africa from the 17th century in which colonisation triggered the ongoing existence of racial segregation amongst the blacks and whites. It explores the affects this division had upon the population and takes a closer look at this through the Khoekhoe people of South Africa. It focuses on ethnic and racial difference which led to conflict and violence. The essay addresses the consequences that this dominance the Europeans had over the Africans and how it has lasted through many generations and is still evident today.
-Anna Blake
"Evaluate how the PRC has attempted to homogenise Tibetan culture with Chinese culture, and to an extent completely remove it, in relation to Gellner's theory" - abstract
This essay explores the many claims that Tibetan culture has been systematically targeted and corroded by the People's republic of China with their aim being to completely marginalise it. Using examples such as the Chinese destruction of the Tibetan monasteries, restrictions on the use of Tibetan language in schools and the workplace, and allegations that Tibetans who have tried to escape from Chinese control have been imprisoned, tortured and used for shooting practise, this essay argues that China's policies towards Tibet and its people has been inhumane and discriminatory. Using the techniques to homogenise a nation which are outlined by Gellner, it seems that China's ambition to engulf Tibet and its people into Chinese culture and territory has been and still is being demonstrated.
'Discuss the factors contributing to the resurgence of ethnic conflict in Burundi in 1993.' This essay examines a number of factors that have contributed to regularity of ethnic violence between the Hutu and Tutsi people of Burundi. The essay highlights the events of the 1993 genocide, after the first democractic election and the assination of the president. Factors examined within this essay include; the history and colonalism ideologies that have persisted to this day, propaganda, myths and the masculinazation of ethnicity and politics. It is highly likely that ethnic violence will continue in Burundi especially as Hutu rebels are now uniting across the borders of Burundi and Rwanda, attacking either country. The Tutsis have responded by also uniting across borders in 'defence' which does not present an optimistic outlook for either Burundi or Rwanda.
- Abi Hill