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Spring, 2004
T-Th 11:00-12:15
Carnegie 101
Joshua Searle-White, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335
e-mail: jsearle@allegheny.edu
Telephone: 814/332-2706
Office Hours: M 1:00-2:30, T 2:45-4:15, W 1:00-3:00, Th 10-11
[ Assignments | Home | Fiji | Sri Lanka ]
COURSE SYLLABUS
Overview
The groups we belong to are part of our very identity. When you ask me who I am, I might first give my name, but soon I would have to talk about my family, my profession, where I come from, and perhaps my religion, my language, my ethnic group, or my nationality. Sudanese, Hindu, Steelers fan, Allegheny student, Libertarian -- all of these are terms that describe us in ways that connect us with others, demonstrate our identity in terms of membership in a group.
That part of our identity comes from group memberships seems to be part of being human. However, when we identify ourselves as part of a group, there are necessarily those who are not part of our group. Sometimes we don’t really care about such differences. But sometimes – often – we do. Group memberships can and do lead to feelings of solidarity, of warmth, and of connection. But they also can and do lead to division, hatred, and violence.
In this course we are going to try to understand the nature of our group identifications (particularly our national identity), to explore how difference can lead to hatred and conflict, and to develop ways of reducing inter-group conflict. By focusing on both theory and case histories, we will begin to see how answering these questions is complex, since each conflict is set in its own historical and cultural context.
We will attempt to gain this understanding both experientially, by examining our own identities and our group interactions within the class, and analytically, by analyzing the writings and words of others. This course has the potential to be extremely interesting for all of us, but it will demand your curiosity, your active participation, and perhaps, at times, your courage. And obviously, all of these require your presence in the class – so don’t miss any class sessions.
Class Sessions
We will engage in various activities during the course. They include:
· discussions of readings, videos, and primary source materials;
- leading the discussion (you will do so at least once);
- presentations by guest speakers;
- group work;
- lectures (a few); and
- hoopla and celebration at the end, providing we make it all the way through.
In all of these various formats I will encourage and expect your active participation. For many of the sessions I have assigned readings. I expected you to read these articles and chapters and come in prepared to ask questions about them. To encourage you to do that, when you come into the class on a discussion day, someone’s name will be on the board. If that someone is you, you will give a 2-minute analysis of the day’s reading(s) to begin the discussion.
Readings
There is one required book for this course, which is:
Searle-White, J. (2001). The psychology of nationalism. New York: Palgrave.
The other readings will be found either on electronic reserve in the library or are available through Expanded Academic ASAP, as noted.
Alley, R. (2000). The coup crisis in Fiji. Australian Journal of Political Science, 35, 515-521. [Available via Expanded Academic ASAP]
Anderson, B. (1983). Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. London: Verso. [pp. 1-18]
Becker, E. (1973). Escape from evil. New York: Free Press. [pp. 91-95]
Buruma, I. (1999). The joys and perils of victimhood. The New York Review of Books, 46 (April 8), 4-9. [Available via Expanded Academic ASAP]
Carmy, S. (2003). Taking forgiveness seriously (book review). First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, 54, 5-9. [Available via Expanded Academic ASAP]
Coulter, J. W. (1942). Fiji: Little India of the Pacific. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. [pp. 19-27 and 79-95]
Crenshaw, M. (1998). The logic of terrorism: Terrorist behavior as a product of strategic choice. In W. Reich (Ed.), Origins of terrorism: Psychologies, ideologies, theologies, states of mind (pp. 7-24). Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center Press.
Crocker, C. A. (1996). The varieties of intervention: Conditions for success. In C. E. Crocker, F. O. Hampson, & P. Aall (Eds.), Managing global chaos (pp. 183-196).
Fisher, R, & Ury, W. (1981). Getting to yes: Negotiating agreement without giving in. New York: Viking Penguin Inc. [pp. xi-14]
Forsyth, D. R. (1999). Group dynamics (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole-Wadsworth Publishing Company. [pp. 376-393]
Fromm, E. (1973). The anatomy of human destructiveness. New York: Henry Holt & Company. [pp. 259-284]
Goertzel, T. G. (2002). Terrorist beliefs and terrorist lives. In C. E. Stout (Ed.), The psychology of terrorism (v. 1) (pp. 97-111). Westport, CT: Praeger.
Gunaranta, R. (1987). War and peace in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka: Institute of Fundamental Studies. [Chapter 2]
Joshi, C. L. (2000). Ultimate sacrifice: Faced with harassment and economic deprivation, young Tamils are ready to give up their lives. Far Eastern Economic Review (June 1), 64-67.
Keen, S. (1988). Faces of the enemy. New York: Harper & Rowe. [pp. 43-72]
Kelman, H. C., & Hamilton, V. L. (1989). Crimes of obedience: Toward a social psychology of authority and responsibility. New Haven: Yale University Press. [pp. 1-22]
Rogers, J. D., Spencer, J., & Uyangoda, J. (1998). Sri Lanka: Political Violence and Ethnic Conflict. American Psychologist, 53, 771-777.
Searle-White, J. (in preparation). Transforming victimhood.
Smith, A. D. (1991). National identity. London: Penguin Books. [Chapter 1]
Stott, S., & Reicher, S. (1998). How conflict escalates: The inter-group dynamics of collective football crowd “violence.” Sociology, 32, 353-378. [Available via Expanded Academic ASAP]
Tillich, P. (1952). The courage to be. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. [pp. 40-63]
Williams, T., & Calvert, J. (1859). Fiji and the Fijians. New York: Appleton & Company. [Chapter 2]
Web Assigments
There are also a number of reading assignments which include materials posted on the web. To get to those assignments, simply go to the course home page, click on the conflict that we will be studying that day (either the Fiji conflict or the Sri Lanka conflict), and you will find the assignments. Alternatively, you can go to the course outline below, and you will find the links there on the appropriate day. I will treat these assignments the same was as any reading assignment; that is, I will expect you to be able not simply to report what these sources say but to analyze them as well.
Respect
During the course we will have contact with some of the
people whose national or ethnic conflicts we are considering. Please remember,
both in our discussions with them and in your comments with your colleagues,
that these are people who are engaged in real struggles which can affect
their lives in profound ways. Be respectful -- we are learning from
these people, not studying them.
Group Work
You will note that several days are devoted to "group work." I will explain that as we come to it during the semester. Some of the group work sessions will require presentations and significant preparation; other sessions will involve only work done in class.
Assignments
Aside from the group work, you have two primary assignments to complete over the course of the semester. The first is a paper which use the concepts discussed in class to analyze a case study of group identity or conflict. I will give you a separate handout which describes the assignment, but in brief, here is the process: First, you will choose a conflict to analyze during one of the early class sessions. Next, you will write a brief (1-2 page) proposal that outlines the conflict and how you will analyze it. Third, you will write a first draft of the paper that will be read by two of your colleagues as well as me. Finally, you will turn in a final paper for a grade, along with the critiques that you received on it.
The second assignment will be a brief analysis of one of the presentations by a guest speaker. I will give you a separate handout with instructions for that later in the semester.
Exams
There will be a midterm and a final exam. Each will involve applying and discussing the principles we have examined in class.
Grading
Your grade will derive from your class participation (including your attendance, participation in the group work, participation in discussions (the quality of what you say, not the quantity), preparation for class sessions (as shown by your ability to discuss the readings intelligently and your success in completing any brief assignments I may give you), and your participation in the group work), your paper grade, the midterm and final, and the analysis of the guest speaker presentation. The points given to each of these elements are as follows:
Participation: 100 points
Group Work Points: 25 points
Paper: 100 points
Presentation Analysis: 25 points
Midterm Exam: 100 points
Final Exam: 100 points
TOTAL 450 points
I will then assign grades according to the percentage of the total points you have earned (90-100% is an A, etc.).
A Final Note
This course is designed to be exciting, interesting,
and conducive of new ways of thinking. It is possible that at times it could
also be upsetting. Please let me know if you are having difficulties with
any aspect of the course, so that we can try to correct those problems. I
look forward to working with you!
COURSE OUTLINE
|
Date |
Topic
|
Reading/Assignment
|
|
Jan 15 |
Introduction: Identities |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 20 |
Definitions and
Conflicts |
Definition/Conflict
Assignment |
|
Jan 22 |
How People Act in
Groups |
S-W Ch. 1, Forsyth
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 27 |
The Sri Lanka Conflict |
Rogers; Gunaratna;
SL web assg 1 |
|
Jan 29 |
The Fiji Conflict |
Williams; Coulter;
Alley; Fiji web assg 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 3 |
Group Work I: Identities
|
-- |
|
Feb 5 |
Social Processes
& Riots |
S-W Ch. 2; SL web
assg 2; Fiji web assg 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 10 |
Social Violence
|
Kelman; Stott |
|
Feb 12 |
Terrorism and Terrorists |
Joshi; Goertzel;
Crenshaw |
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 17 |
Group Work II: National
Narratives |
-- |
|
Feb 19 |
Identity |
S-W Ch. 3; Smith |
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 24 |
Human Nature |
S-W Ch. 4; Tillich |
|
Feb 26 |
Aggression, Sin,
and Purity |
Fromm; Becker |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 2 |
Group Work III:
Accusations |
-- |
|
Mar 4 |
Propaganda |
Keen; SL web assg
3; Fiji web assg 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 9 |
Current Events |
[Midterm exam due] |
|
Mar 11 |
Victimhood I |
S-W Ch. 5; Searle-White
op-ed |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 16 |
SPRING BREAK |
-- |
|
Mar 18 |
SPRING BREAK |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 23 |
Victimhood II |
Searle-White; Buruma |
|
Mar 25 |
Conflict Management |
Crocker [Paper
proposals due] |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 30 |
Group Work IV:
Communication |
-- |
|
Apr 1 |
Negotiating |
S-W Ch. 6; Fisher |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 6 |
Interviews I |
TBA [Paper drafts
due] |
|
Apr 8 |
Interviews II |
TBA |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 13 |
Group Work V: Agreements |
-- |
|
Apr 15 |
Forgiveness &
Reconciliation |
Carmy |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 20 |
TJPM |
[Final papers
due] |
|
Apr 22 |
Beyond Nationalism |
S-W Ch. 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 27 |
Finale & Hoopla |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
May 5 |
Final Exam (2:00
p.m.) |
|
