GBL2870 Divided Lands: Politics, Borders, and Identities

Through this course students will immerse themselves in a divided land such as Cyprus and/or Bosnia-Herzegovina, where conflict, both local and international, has resulted in geographic, political, and cultural borders between different, yet similar, communities striving for peace and coexistence. Students will explore the politics and identities in these regions, examining how and why these communities became divided, how they have worked to coexist and build peace despite their differences, and the role of international actors in both creating and resolving conflicts. The course will delve into contemporary forms of peacebuilding and resistance, as well as the complicated politics of memory, narrative, and truth-telling. We will also examine the role of the media, art, and other arenas in the construction of competing narratives. Additionally, students will learn about unique cultural influences, including those from neighboring countries and beyond.

Credits

4 sh

Prerequisite

GBL 1870

Course Types

Civilization; Society

Offered

• Winter

Notes

Application, acceptance and additional travel fee required.

Course Outcomes

1. Describe and explain the causes and historical legacies of the conflicts
2. Evaluate and debate how the role of external and international actors and their conflicting interests (e.g. United Nations, European Union, United States, Britain, Turkey, etc.) have influenced the conflict and peacebuilding efforts; and how they should respond to and shape the contemporary realities on the ground.
3. Re-examine their own perspective on global and personal responsibility and response in the face of human rights abuses, injustice, and conflict in other countries
4. Analyze and compare the effects of history and war/conflict on contemporary borders and cultural, religious, and political identities and communities
5. Formulate and articulate their own perspectives on the conflicts and contemporary socio-cultural, political, and international dynamics
6. Weigh the perspectives of the different communities (NGOs, youth, religious, ethnic, gender, etc.) in the post-conflict environment