1. HUMR5501-07 Ethnic Challenges to the Nation-State
Introduction
N. Butenschøn 2007

2. Course content
This course addresses challenges faced by States with cultural/ethnic heterogeneous populations within their borders.
Normative
Political
Legal
N. Butenschøn 2007

3. Methodological design
Multi-disciplinary and comparative perspectives on legal and political orders
N. Butenschøn 2007

4. The human rights perspective
How these legal and political orders relate to the standards of the international human rights system. Particular learning outcomes:
Collective (aspects of) rights in international human rights law;
Challenges for their implementation at the national level;
The formation of group identity;
Problems and tensions in guaranteeing the implementation of individual rights while considering group claims.
N. Butenschøn 2007

5. Important concepts Democray Ethnicity Nationalism Autonomy Federalism
Citizenship
Self-determination
Indigenous rights
Non-discrimination
Etc.
N. Butenschøn 2007

6. Relevance for the MA-program
An exercise in multidisciplinarity
Addresses ongoing discourses on
Individual vs collective rights;
Universal vs particularistic rights;
Political vs ESC rights;
The role of the state in ”conflict zone” between majorities and minorities.
N. Butenschøn 2007

7. Lectures 1. Tuesday 21. August: Introduction to the course.
Nils Butenschøn and Maria Lundberg
2. Thursday 23. August: Political responses I.
Nils Butenschøn
3. Tuesday 4. September: Political Responses II.
4. Tuesday 11. September: Theories of group formation
Kjetil Tronvoll
5. Tuesday 2. October: Legal Reponses I
Maria Lundberg
6. Tuesday 9. October: Legal Reponses II
7. Tuesday 16. October: Legal Reponses III
N. Butenschøn 2007

8. Seminars Case studies;
Student presentations – three students on each case. Organised by students/Bente;
Presented to class and in-house expert.
N. Butenschøn 2007

9. Seminars/ Student presentations
Tuesday 6. November: China
Maria Lundberg
Friday 9. November: Ethiopia
Kjetil Tronvoll
Tuesday 13. November: Israel/Palestine
Nils Butenschøn
Friday 16. November: Indonesia
Knut Asplund
N. Butenschøn 2007

10. Exam: Written assignment
Handed out 11 September;
To be submitted 1 December;
Apply a legal approach, a social science approach, or a combination;
Must address themes in the required reading list and at least one of the empirical cases discussed in the seminars.
N. Butenschøn 2007