Ethnic Diversity in East Asia
Code: 101533Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| East Asian Studies | OP | 4 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Irene Masdeu Torruella
- Email :
- irene.masdeu@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Irene Masdeu Torruella
- Celia González Díaz
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
To take this subject, students should ideally have obtained the programme's first-year, second-year and third-year credits. Students must be able to read and understand academic texts in English.
Objectives
The aim of this course is to study the ethnic diversity of East Asia, specifically in Chinese and Japanese societies. It includes different theoretical perspectives from historical, political, and ethnological study. In the case of Chinese society, the classes will take as a reference the notion of minzu (ethnicity), which is central in the political construction of ethnic diversity in the People's Republic, as well as in the official ethnic categorization and the evolution of policies and legislation on ethnic minorities. In the case of Japanese society, the notion of minzoku (ethnicity) will be key in the historical, political and cultural understanding of ethnic diversity, mainly in the framework of the modern construction of Japanese nation-state and its project of colonial expansion as empire, but also in the analysis of its pre-modern historical background and its ramifications in the context of today's multicultural society. In both parts, the classes will address the analysis of specific case studies with an emphasis on representational issues. The ultimate goal of the course is to provide different tools for reflection on the issue of ethnic diversity in East Asia.
Learning outcomes
- Using the specific terminology of political sciences, economy and sociology.
- Using different tools for specific purposes in the fields of political sciences, economy and sociology.
- Assessing the obtained results in the search information process in order to update the knowledge about political sciences, economy and sociology.
- Knowing the history, values, beliefs and ideologies of East Asia in order to understand and critically assess social issues, phenomena, and processes related with that region.
- Knowing the ethnic and cultural diversity of East Asia, the identity management policies of East Asia and their evolution.
- Developing critical thinking and reasoning and communicating them effectively both in your own and other languages.
- Developing self-learning strategies.
- Respecting the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and situations.
- Producing innovative and competitive proposals in research and professional activity.
- Students must be flexible and capable of adapting to new circumstances.
- Working in teams in an international, multilingual and multicultural context.
- Working in interdisciplinary and intercultural groups.
- Solving problems of intercultural communication.
- Solving conflict situations.
- Ensuring the quality of one's own work.
- Designing and managing projects.
- Following the characteristic code of ethics of the professional practice.
- Know and understand the characteristics of society and social processes in East Asia.
Contents
Chinese society
- Introduction and historical perspective
- The ethnic question in modern China
- The representation of ethnic minorities
- Contemporary themes
Japanese society
- Introduction and historical perspective
- The ethnic question in modern Japan
- Representation of ethnic minorities
- Contemporary themes
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentations | 15 | 0.6 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
| Written essay and study | 35 | 1.4 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
| Lectures and papers discussion | 50 | 2 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
To achieve the established objectives, this subject involves both lectures and practical classes. Given that its teaching is shared, the lecturers will inform students of the characteristics of assessment activities on the first day of class. The work students carry out mainly consists of lectures, individual/group presentations in class, debates and discussions in class based on selected readings, watching documentaries, documentation searches, reading assignments, and written assignments. Students must keep abreast of the news and information published on the Virtual Campus / Moodle.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written essay (China) | 35% | 17.5 | 0.7 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
| Group assignment and presentation in class | 30% | 15 | 0.6 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
| Written essay (Japan) | 35% | 17.5 | 0.7 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
Continuous assessment
Assessment is continuous. Students must provide evidence of their progress by completing various tasks and tests. Tasks and tests deadlines will be indicated in the course schedule on the first day of class. The information on assessment activities and their weighting is a guide. The subject's lecturer will provide full information when teaching begins.
Continuous assessment activities
- Group assignment and presentation in class (30%)
- Written essay (China) (35%)
- Written essay (Japan) (35%)
Review
When publishing final marks prior to recording them on students' transcripts, the lecturer will provide written notification of a date and time for reviewing assessment activities. Students must arrange reviews in agreement with the lecturer.
Missed/failed assessment activities
Students may retake assessment activities they have failed or compensate for any they have missed, provided that those they have actually performed account for a minimum of 66.6% (two thirds) of the subject's final mark and that they have a weighted average mark of at least 3.5.
The lecturer will inform students of the procedure involved, in writing, when publishing final marks prior to recording them on transcripts. The lecturer may set one assignment per failed or missed assessment activity or a single assignment to cover a number of such activities. Under no circumstances may an assessment activity worth 100% of the final mark be retaken or compensated for. In case of retaking, maximum grade will be 5 (Pass).
Classification as "not assessable"
In the event of the assessment activities a student has performed accounting for just 25% or less of the subject's final mark, their work will be classified as \"not assessable\" on their transcript.
Misconduct in assessment activities
Any irregularity committed during an assessment (academic fraud, plagiarism, or misuse of AI, unless expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that could lead to a significant change in the grade will result in a grade of 0 for that assessment. If multiple irregularities occur during assessments for the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. Furthermore, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any individual who commits any of these irregularities.
Use of AI
In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies may or may not be permitted depending on the activity. The permitted and prohibited uses in each case will be detailed in the course introduction. Students must clearly identify which parts were generated using AI technologies, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and the final result of the activity. A lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in graded assignments will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty on the assignment grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.
Single assessment
This subject may be assessed under the single assessment system in accordance with the terms established in the academic regulations of the UAB and the assessment criteria of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting.
Students must make an online request within the period established by the faculty and send a copy to the teacher responsible for the subject, for the record.
Single assessment will be carried out in person on one day during week 16 or 17 of the semester. The Academic Management Office will publish the exact date and time on the faculty website.
On the day of the single assessment, teaching staff will ask the student for identification, which should be presented as a valid identification document with a recent photograph (student card, DNI/NIE or passport).
Single assessment activities
The final grade for the subject will be calculated according to the following percentages:
- Written essay (40%)
- Oral defense of the written essay (20%)
- Test on Chinese and Japanese societies (40%)
Grade revision and resit procedures for the subject are the same as those for continual assessment. See the section above in this study guide.
Bibliography
Chinese society
- Anonymous, 2021, “You shall sing and dance: contested ‘safeguarding’ of Uyghur Intangible Cultural Heritage”, Asian Ethnicity, vol.22, no.1, pp. 121-139.
- Bulag, Uradyn E., 2021, “Minority Nationalities as Frankenstein’s Monsters? Reshaping ‘the Chinese Nation’ and China’s Quest to Become a ‘Normal Country’”, The China Journal, no.86, pp. 46-67.
- Mullaney, Thomas, 2010, Coming to Terms with the Nation: Ethnic Classification in Modern China, Berkeley, University of California Press.
- Mullaney, Thomas, James Leibold, Stéphane Gros, Eric Vanden Bussche, eds., 2012, Critical Han Studies: The History, Representation, and Identity of China's Majority, Berkeley, University of California Press.
- Qi, Jinyu, 2017, “A preliminary study of the Chinese ethnic identification and ethnic taxonomy system”, Journal of the Central University for Nationalities, no.4, pp.18–28.
- Rong, Ma, 2010, “The ‘Politicization’ and ‘Culturization’ of Ethnic Groups”, Chinese Sociology & Anthropology, vol.42, no.4, pp. 31-45.
- Sun, Yan, 2020, From Empire to Nation State: Ethnic Politics in China, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
- Wang Hui, 2011, “The ‘Tibetan Question’ East and West: Orientalism, Regional Ethnic Autonomy, and the Politics of Dignity”, Wang Hui, The Politics of Imagining Asia, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press, pp. 136–227.
Japanese society
- Denoon, D. et al., (eds.). (1996), Multicultural Japan: palaeolithic to postmodern, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
- Graburn, N. et al., (eds.). (2008). Multiculturalism in the new Japan: crossing the boundaries within, New York, Berghahn Books.
- Guarné, B. (ed.). (2018). Antropología de Japón: Identidad, discurso y representación, Barcelona, Edicions Bellaterra.
- Guarné, B. & Yamashita S. (eds.). (2015). Japan in global circulation: transnational migration and multicultural politics, Kokuritsu Minzokugaku Hakubutsukan Kenkyu-Houkoku, Special Issue, Minpaku, The National Museum of Ethnology in Japan, vol.40, no.1.
- Kerr, G. H. (2011). Okinawa: The history of an island people. Tuttle Publishing.
- Lewallen, A. E. (2016). The fabric of indigeneity: Ainu identity, gender, and settler colonialism in Japan. University of New Mexico Press.
- Lie, J. (2001). Multiethnic Japan, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press.
- Tanji, M. (2007). Myth, protest and struggle in Okinawa. Routledge.
- Weiner, M. (1997). Japan's minorities: the illusion of homogeneity, London & New York, Routledge.
Software
No specific software will be used.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan/Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |