Lectures

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  1. The Making of Identity

  In our introductory lecture, Dr. Kaufmann covers the distinctions between ethnic groups, nations, and states, examining their key characteristics and interrelationships. We see how ethnic groups are defined by subjective beliefs in common ancestry and shared cultural markers, while nations are territorial political communities, and states are political units with monopoly over force in a defined territory. Finally, Dr. Kaufmann highlights the ongoing dialectic between cultural and political forces in shaping national identity.
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  2. Ethnic Identity

  In lecture two, we examine the historical formation of ethnic groups, tracing how small face-to-face groups evolve into large imagined communities through integration, differentiation, and growing cultural consciousness. We explore the debate between ethnosymbolists, who see ethnic identities as rooted in premodern history, and modernists, who view them as modern constructions shaped by political elites. The lecture concludes by considering how written records, religious distinctiveness, intellectual leadership, and scale sustain ethnic identities over time.
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  3. Origins of Nations

  In lecture three, we analyze competing theories of nationalism and ethnicity, focusing on three main schools of thought: instrumentalism/modernism, ethnosymbolism, and primordialism. The lecture examines when nations historically emerged and what motivates nationalism, contrasting modernist views that emphasize political and economic factors with ethnosymbolist perspectives that stress cultural and historical attachments. We examine key works from leading scholars in the field, discussing how these different theoretical approaches explain the formation and persistence of national identity.
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  4. Nation-Building

  In lecture four, we study the complex relationship between states and nation-building, examining how governments shape national identity through various mechanisms of integration and assimilation. The discussion focuses on France as a paradigmatic case of successful nation-building, highlighting how the state used education, language policies, and cultural institutions to create a unified national identity from diverse regional populations. The lecture concludes by examining the challenges of nation-building in postcolonial states in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, where factors such as weak state capacity, ethnic diversity, and limited resources often complicate the process of creating cohesive national identities.
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  5. Ethnic Diversity

  In lecture five, we explore the dynamics of multi-ethnic states, investigating how ethnic groups, nations, and states interact in shaping modern societies. We trace the roots of ethnic diversity—from geography and historical frontiers to trade routes, colonial legacies, and the age of ethnic groups and states—and consider how these factors affect economic development and political stability. The lecture concludes by analyzing the challenges of balancing diversity with national unity, the impact of modernization and nation-building on ethnic relations, and how demographic shifts through immigration and birth rates can reshape national identity.
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  6. National Identity

  In lecture six, we learn about the interplay between ethnic and civic forms of national identity, examining their historical development and contemporary relevance. The discussion challenges the traditional dichotomy between "ethnic" nationalism (based on culture and ancestry) and "civic" nationalism (based on political institutions). Dr. Kaufmann emphasizes that variations in national identity are often greater within countries than between them, and that both ethnic and civic forms of nationalism can be exclusive or inclusive depending on how they are practiced.
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  7. Everyday Nationalism

  In lecture seven, Dr. Kaufmann delves into the concept of everyday nationalism, a new perspective in nationalism studies that emerged in the 2000s as a critique of classical nationalism theories. We how national identity is reproduced through mundane, daily activities and consumer culture, rather than solely through top-down institutional mechanisms. We analyze how different social groups interpret and appropriate national symbols differently, with examples from various countries showing how regional, ethnic, and ideological differences influence people's understanding and expression of national identity.
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  8. Nationalism and Populism

  In our eighth and final lecture we investigate the relationship between nationalism and populism, examining their overlapping yet distinct characteristics in modern politics. We analyze how both concepts emphasize "the people" as bearers of political power, while differing in their focus: populism primarily addresses a vertical divide between elites and masses, whereas nationalism concerns horizontal boundaries between national in-groups and out-groups. Dr. Kaufmann concludes by examining the recent rise of national populism in Western democracies and noting that, in the end, our understanding of what drives it shapes how we respond.