Professor Chandran Kukathas

MSc Political Theory, MSc Political Theory (Research), MSc European Studies: Ideas and Identities, MSc Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies, MSc Global Media and Communications (with Fudan or USC), LSE-Sciences Po Double Degree in European Studies and where regulations permit.

The focus of the course is normative. Students will be asked to reach conclusions about what modifications, if any, are called for in the standard liberal account of citizenship by multiculturalist and nationalist criticism. In the course of doing so, they will have to become aware of the different varieties of multiculturalism and nationalism.

Following an introductory session, the remaining eleven seminars are divided into three sets.

Set One takes up the attack on the 'false universality' of liberalism and examines a range of recommendations all of which are described by their authors as somehow 'multicultural', including special representation, the waiver of certain legal requirements, and group autonomy.

Set Two is devoted to nationalism, the first two to its impact within a state, the remaining two to its implications for inter-state relations.

Set Three will be used to pull together the first and second sets of topics respectively by looking at group rights and immigration/naturalization policies.

10 seminars in the LT.

Students will write two short essays, one of which may be based on their class presentation.

Will Kymlicka, Multicultural Citizenship, Brian Barry, Culture and Equality Chandran Kukathas, The Liberal Archipelago, Iris Young, Justice and the Politics of Difference, David Miller, On Nationality

One 5,000 word essay to be submitted in week 6 of the ST (100%).