The Politics of Ethnicity and Religion i

In this seminar we will examine the politics of ethnicity religion in China from the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) through the present. Our readings and discussions will touch on important themes in world history including empire and colonialism, borderlands and state-building, nationalism and representation, law and constitutional politics, and religion and ritual; as well as major topics in China studies including the legacy of the Qing dynasty, the history of the Chinese state in Inner and Southeast Asia, and the religious and ethnic policies of the Chinese Communist Party. This is not a survey of minority cultures and communities. Rather, it is a critical exploration of the maintenance and management of cultural difference within a society that is often construed as homogenous.