COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: LANGUAGE, NATIONALISM, AND ETHNIC CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 432	B	2	3	0	0	3	7.5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Dr. Reina Shehi rzenelaj@epoka.edu.al , Friday 10:00-12:00
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Elective
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Professional Master in Political Science and International Relations
Classroom and Meeting Time:	Wednesday 13:45 - 16: 30
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	80%
Course Description:	Language, Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in the Balkans is a master level course. The aim of this course is to explore the relations (or absence of relations) between nationalism and ethnic conflicts in different socio-political contexts within Balkans. This course is designed not only for developing a comparative theoretical approach to nationalism and ethnic conflict but also for attempting to make a collective enquiry into the emergence and transformation of the concepts of nation, nationalism, patriotism, ethnic identity and ethnic conflict in the Balkans through time. After finishing this course student will be able to analyze and understand the relationship among theoretical approaches to nationalism and ethnic conflict and their practical implication in different Balkan countries.
Course Objectives:	The course offers an analysis of the concepts such as nation, nationality, ethnicity which are as old as modern in the history of the Balkan region. The course begins with a broad understanding of theoretical approaches that explain the linkage of these concepts and then moves on to cases in the Western Balkans. The aim of this course is to explore the relations (or absence of relations) between nationalism and ethnic conflicts in different socio-political contexts within Balkans. This course is designed not only for developing a comparative theoretical approach to nationalism and ethnic conflict but also for attempting to make a collective inquiry into the emergence and transformation of the concepts of nation, nationalism, patriotism, ethnic identity and ethnic conflict in the Balkans through EU Integration Framework. After finishing this course student will be able to analyze and understand the relationship among theoretical approaches to nationalism and ethnic conflict and their practical implications in different Balkan countries.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	National Identity
2	Ethnic Conflicts
3	Balkans
4	Conflict Transformation

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to Identity Politics
2	Nation, Nationalism and Nation-State
3	Ethnic Conflict and Approaches to Understanding It
4	Ethnic Groups and Minorities
5	Ethnic Nationalism and Regional Security
6	Neighbors and Neighborhoods
7	Midterm Week
8	Nationalism and Ethnic Conflicts in the Balkan States
9	Case 1: Bosnian War
10	Case 2: Kosovo War
11	Case 3: Macedonia
12	Ethnic Identity and Contemporary Challenges: EU Transformative Framework
13	Civic Engagement and Ethnic Reintegration
14	Reaching Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Peace

Prerequisite(s):	n/a
Textbook(s):	Mylonas, H. (2013). The politics of nation-building: Making co-nationals, refugees, and minorities. Cambridge University Press. Jesse, N. G., & Williams, K. P. (2010). Ethnic conflict: a systematic approach to cases of conflict. CQ Press. Miscevic, N. (Ed.). (2000). Nationalism and ethnic conflict: philosophical perspectives. Open Court
Additional Literature:	Williams, R. M. (2003). The wars within: Peoples and states in conflict. Cornell University Press.
Laboratory Work:	N/A
Computer Usage:	N/A
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	To understand the politicization of social phenomenon such as language, ethnicity, religion and nationality.
2	To be familiar with major features of contemporary identity constructions that is relevant to politics.
3	To learn how and what makes national identity and attitudes change.
4	To be able to relate theoretical understanding to empirical data and analyses especially for Western Balkans.
5	To be able to distil information, present ideas and defend a theoretical position.

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Professional Master in Political Science and International Relations Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Homework	8	5
Project	1	30
Final Exam	1	30
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	4	64
Mid-terms			0
Assignments	2	12	24
Final examination	1	14	14
Other			0
Total Work Load:			150
Total Work Load/25(h):			6
ECTS Credit of the Course:			7.5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

NA