Nationalism
MIT OpenCourseWare's graduate-level survey examines nationalism as a force in modern politics and society, covering theories of national identity, nation-states, and nationalist ideology. Topics include nationalism's role in state-building, economic modernization, democratization, and religious conflict, drawing on case studies from Europe, Asia, and the postcolonial world. The course includes a syllabus, readings drawn from major scholars of nationalism theory, and session-by-session topic outlines as published by MIT's political science department. There are no video lectures, but the full reading list and assignment structure are provided for self-study. Materials are free to access under MIT's open courseware license, with no certificate offered. The course suits anyone trying to understand why national identity remains such a durable and combustible force in contemporary politics.