1
Koç University
Spring 2014
HUMS 108
Identity, Power, Culture
Güldeniz Kıbrıs
SOS 311
gkibris@ku.edu.tr
Office hours: M:-W 8:00-9:15
Course description:
This course explores the paths of specific historical changes which led to the formation and construction of
European identity as opposed and in relation to its non-European ‘others’ or counterparts. Particularly from the 15th
century onwards, Europe represented itself as a distinct, unique and triumphant civilization and at the same time
marked its difference from other cultures, peoples and civilizations. This course’s task is to investigate under which
circumstances this formation has been taking place. Questions like: “What is European identity? Who defines it?
Who and what does it include and not include? On what grounds?” will be answered through the analysis of
various primary sources produced during the period between the 15th century and present times.
The assumption in this course is that the meanings of ‘European self’ and its ‘others’ are never simply
given, but they imply relations of power, domination, and exclusion. In fact, at the turn of the 21st century, the
definition of ‘European identity’ has become the focal point for political and cultural contestation, on the level of
the European Union and its individual member states, over issues ranging from global capitalism, national identity,
immigration, citizenship, racism, to the place of Islam within Europe. This course at the end hopes to address a
number of critical issues of modern times by revealing the interconnections between politics, identity formation,
culture, power and history in Europe while at the same time presenting a double exploration of both ‘ideal’ and
‘real’ Europe.
Organization of classes:
The class will meet two times a week.
**** The most important requirement is for you to come to class having done the readings****
Course Requirements:
The final evaluation will be determined by the following components:
Midterm I: 30% (MARCH 5)
Midterm II: 30% (APRIL 14)
Final: 30% (BE CAREFUL WITH THE DATES)
You are requested to provide valid medical excuses if you are not able to attend exams.
Participation 10%: Attendance is not mandatory in this class. But, ten percent of the overall grade relies on
student’s interest. This interest may be revealed through listening carefully, asking questions, responding to
instructor’s questions and/or engaging in class discussions.
Course Schedule and Readings:
Week 1 (Feb. 3-5)Theoretical Framework
Robert Bocock, “Defining Culture,” in Hall and Gieben, Formations of Modernity, p. 1-4,
Stuart Hall, “Introduction,” in Hall and Gieben, p. 5-9,
Andrea, Overfield, “Primary Sources and How to Read Them,” The Human Record, p. 10-15.
Documentary: Whose is This Song?
Week 2 (Feb.10-12) European Reconnaissance: Geographic Explorations
Norton et al., “Early European Explorations,” in A People and A Nation, p. 16-28,
Jared Diamond, “Collision at Cajamarca,” in Guns, Germs and Steel, p. 29-36.
Documentary: Guns, Germs and Steel, part 1
Week 3 (Feb. 17-19)Renaissance, Reformation
Machiavelli, “the Prince,” p. 37-38,
Alberti, “Book of the Family,” p. 39-42
Week 4 (Feb. 24-26) Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment
Galilei, “Letter to the Grand Duchess,” p. 43-45,
Week 5 (March 3-5) Enlightenment
Rousseau, “The Social Contract,” p. 46-47.
MIDTERM I (MARCH 5)
Week 6 (March 10-12) French Revolution
2
“Declaration of the Rights of Man,” p. 48-50,
“Declaration of the Rights of Woman,” p. 50-52,
“Petition of the Jews of Paris,” p. 53-54.
Week 7 (March 17-19) Industrial Revolution and Its Critics
Malthus, “On the Principle of Population,” p. 55-56,
“Report on Child Labor,” p. 56-57,
Engels, “The Conditions of the Working Class,” p. 57-58,
Henry Mayhew, “Prostitution in Victorian England,” p. 59-61.
Week 8 (March 24-26) Imperialism, Colonization, Racism, Orientalism and Critics
Edward Said, “Orientalism,” in Hall p. 62-68, Hall p. 64-79,
Chamberlain, “Colonial Commerce and the White Man’s Burden,” p. 80-81,
Edmund Morel, “The Black Man’s Burden,” p. 82-83,
Edouard Drumont, “Jewish France,” p. 84-85.
Documentary: Guns, Germs and Steel, part 3
Week 9 (March 31-April 2) WWI
Heinrich von Treitschke, “The Greatness of War,” p. 1-2
Selected poems, p. 3-5
Ernst Renan, “What is A Nation?”, p. 6-14
Ayşe Gül Altınay, “The Turkish Historical Thesis and the Racialization of Culture,” The Myth of Military Nation,
p. 17-19
SPRING BREAK
Week 10 (Apr. 14- 16) Dictatorships and WWII
David E. Ingersoll, Richard K. Matthews and Andrew Davison, “Fascism,” The Philosophical Roots of Modern
Ideology: Liberalism, Communism, Fascism, Islamism, p. 20-30
Max Cohen, “I was one of the unemployed,” p. 31-33
“The Indoctrination of the German Soldier,” p. 34-36
Hannah Arendt, “Sanık,” Kötülüğün Sıradanlığı (Banality of Evil), p. 37-44
Week 11 (Apr. 21) Cold War
Simone de Beauvoir, “The Second Sex,” p. 45-47
Bob Dylan Songs, p. 47-49
“How to Spot A Communist,” p. 50-51
Animated Soviet and US Propaganda
Week 12 (Apr. 28-30) Post-Cold War Trends and Countertrends
Francis Fukuyama, “The End of History?”, p. 52-67
Samuel P. Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations?”, Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in
World Politics, p. 68-74
Week 13 (May 5-7)
“The President’s State of the Union Address,” p. 80-84
Osama bin Laden, “Declaration of Jihad Against Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Mosques,” p.
84-87
Ayhan Kaya, “The Beur Uprising,” Eurozine, p. 88-98
Ayhan Kaya, “Aesthetics of Diaspora: Contemporary Minstrels in Turkish Berlin,” Journal of Ethnic and Migration
Studies, 99-107
Week 14 (May 12-14)
Umut Özkırımlı, “Europe beyond Utoya: Addressing A Crisis,” Open Democracy, p. 108-110
Mark Mazower, “Epilogue: Making Europe,” Dark Continent
MIDTERM III (MAY 14)