Political Science | Indigenous Politics: Contests over Democracy and Development Around the Globe
Y490 | 13152 | MacLean
Y490 Indigenous Politics: Contests over Democracy and Development
Around the Globe
Lauren Morris MacLean
Online Course Description
The objective of the course is to explore indigenous politics around
the world. In particular, we will examine how indigenous groups debate
their representation in local, national and international politics and
whether and how they participate in sustainable development. Some of
the themes covered in the course will include but are not limited to:
constructions of indigenous identity and the role of colonialism,
race, and class; indigenous concepts of democracy; politics of
sovereignty and casino gaming in the U.S.; debates over education
policy and indigenous politics and development; indigenous claims to
land and resources and multi-national oil companies; transnational
networks of activists and indigenous social movements; global norms of
human rights and contests over indigenous politics and development.
The course is designed to be explicitly comparative and might include
empirical research from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, and Tanzania.
The course readings will be primarily from political science but also
include some scholarship in history, anthropology, sociology,
geography as well as one novel written by an American Indian writer.
Several films will be showed throughout the course and are considered
integral to the objectives of the class.
The course requirements will include: class attendance and
participation; serving one time as a co-discussion facilitator; ten
very brief “first pass” responses to questions posed by the discussion
facilitators; two analytic memos responding to one of the week’s
readings (2 pg each); a statement of research question (1 pg); and a
final research paper, completed and revised subsequently in three
stages (10-12 pages).