National Identity and Nationalism: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives in Russia and Eurasia

Since the Enlightenment, the conceptualisations of nation and nationalism have driven identity formation, as well as state-, and nation-building processes. The relevance of these concepts has a growing importance in current political affairs and international relations. This course aims to develop an in-depth understanding of theoretical perspectives on nationalism and national identity construction as well as actively applying them to both historical and present-day cases from the post-Soviet space. It investigates how political, cultural, and social aspects are shaped and affected by nationalism on different levels. The course approaches nationalism as constructed by states (Russia, Baltic states, Ukraine, etc.), media, and social/intellectual movements but also includes perspectives from below. This course is highly relevant for students interested in national identity construction, nationalism, memory studies, social movements, history of ideas, history of Russia, former USSR and Eastern Europe, cultural studies, and nation-/ state-building processes.