Ethnic Studies

This course aims for students to understand the articulation between capitalism, colonialism and patriarchy based on the processes of women's struggles and resistance against racism in Chile. This approach implies challenging the European thinking on the categories of work and woman with the goal of decentering the Western idea of "humanity". The previous task requires having an epistemological vigilance at the time of researching women, particularly those belonging to stigmatized groups, such as sexual diversity, migrants, and the Mapuche people.

In this course students trace the socio-political, cultural, and anthropological constructions of race, racialization and ethnicity in the host location from the country's history until the present day. Reflecting the increasingly charged articulations of race, racism, and race-based grievances in the host location, students study a wide range of issues, from the lingering legacy of colonialism and decolonization (and the attendant construction of racialized thinking), to reading race and ethnicity in host location, the role of race and ethnicity in the politics of immigration and the rise of ethno-nationalism, and the state of socio-political and cultural social policies that redress racialized and ethnic inequities – from affirmative action and (postcolonial) reparations, to social justice and police reform, and the decolonization of cultural institutions and the media landscape. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach to these issues, students learn how the history and contemporary lived reality of race (relations) and ethnicity in the host location can only be understood by accessing and closely examining -- from a variety of disciplinary vantage points -- the deep cultural archive of the host location and its people. At the same time, students analyze how discourses of race that originated in the United States circulate globally, are refracted through processes of mediation, and inflect local articulations of race, ethnicity and identity.

The development of the Middle East and North Africa region is examined from an historical perspective. The course begins by exploring the major social, political, and cultural issues, events, and ideas which have shaped the region, primarily from the end of World War 1 until the present day. Particular attention is paid to the legacy of colonialism and the process of state-building, various inter-state conflicts and their domestic and regional consequences, the persistence of authoritarianism as well democratization efforts more recently. The course concludes by examining the Middle East and North Africa in the 21st century, including its changing place in the global political arena. The course is organized according to key events, themes as well as case studies.

This is a special studies course involving an internship with a corporate, public, governmental, or private organization, arranged with the Study Center Director or Liaison Officer. Specific internships vary each term and are described on a special study project form for each student. A substantial paper or series of reports is required. Units vary depending on the contact hours and method of assessment. The internship may be taken during one or more terms but the units cannot exceed a total of 12.0 for the year.

This is an independent research course with research arranged between the student and faculty member. The specific research topics vary each term and are described on a special project form for each student. A substantial paper is required. The number of units varies with the student’s project, contact hours, and method of assessment, as defined on the student’s special study project form.

This course explores the multidimensional definitions and meanings of globalization by examining various interconnections, from traditional cultures to modern ones, cultural diversity to homogenization of culture, from migration and immigration to ethnic diversity, and from population growths to urbanization and climate change. 

Students will examine how globalization impacts the culture, family, aging, international migration, popular culture, population, urbanization, environment, and economic development in societies all around the world, paying special attention to how these issues affect Korean culture and society, and will explore possible solutions to these issues. 

This course examines a wide range of Maori writing in English, and situates these works within a vast and vibrant whakapapa of Maori creative production in Aotearoa and beyond. Key themes within the course include: purakau and their contemporary retellings, Maori futurism(s), representations of kai and palate politics, the relationship between birds, writers, and the written word, and narrative sovereignty.

This course examines Indigenous literature which presents Indigenous creative production in Aotearoa in relation to Indigenous literatures around the globe. 

This course examines Indigenous Māori cultural framework as a lens to better understand contemporary organizational issues, such as bicultural governance, structure, ethical leadership and organizational behaviors.